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THE 

DOCTRINES AND DISCIPLINE 

. OF THE 

CANADIAN WESLEYAN 

METHODIST 
NEW CONNEXION 

CHURCH. 



MONTREAL: 

PRINTED BY CAMPBELL & BECKET. 



1841. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 5 

Terms of Union 10 

SECTION I. ^ 

Of Candidates and Admission into Society 13 

SECTION II. 

Concerning Members of Society H 

SECTION m. 

Mode of bringing an Accused Member to Trial 18 

SECTION IV. 

Leaders and their Meetings — \^ 

SECTION V. 

Society Stewards 23 

SECTION VI. 

Quarterly Meeting , 25 

SECTION VII. 

Circuit Stewards , 29 

SECTION VIII. 
Exhorters 31 

SECTION IX. 
Local Preachers and their Meetings — 

SECTION X. 
Circuit Preachers ..... . » o .... o 35 



iv. Contents. 

SECTION XI. 

Miscellaneous Rules relating to Circuit Preachers 38 

SECTION XII. 

Superintendant Preachers , 40 

SECTION XIII. 

Preachers' Salaries 42 

SECTION XIV. 

Conference , o — 

SECTION XV. 
Annual Committee , 47 

SECTION XVI. 

Religious Ordinances and Meetings for Christian Edification.. 49 

SECTION XVII. 

Doctrines 60 

SECTION XVIII. 

Forms for Administering the Ordinances , 52 

SECTION XIX. 
Chapels and Funds of the Connexion 65 

SECTION XX. 
Form of a General Deed of Trust ; and Form of Memorial for 
Peed of Trust.. 6S 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Annual Committee authorized by the 
Conference to prepare a Book of Discipline 
applicable to the present state of the Connexion, 
before entering upon their work, deem it neces^ 
^ary to give some account of the two Bodies that 
have united — of the manner in which the unioa 
was formed — -and of the position in which they 
now stand. 

The Canadian Wesleyan Methodists seceded 
from the Episcopal Methodist Church in Canada 
in 1829, in order to secure a more liberal and 
scriptural form of Church Government, by unit- 
ing the People with the Ministers in all legisla- 
tive and judicial acts, still retaining the doctrines 
and ordinances of that body. 

The Methodist New Connexion seceded from 
the Wesleyan Methodist body in England in 
1797, influenced by similar reasons, and desirous 
of accomplishing the same great objects as tlieir 
Brethren in Canada. During the early yeai^ 
of their existence, they had to endure sevei^ 
trials from various causes ; but they had espe- 
cially to endure all manner of obloquy and 



VI. 



Introduction, 



persecution from certain parties, on account of 
maintaining anti defending those principles of 
Religious freedom, which are the patrimony of 
every man, and the chartered boon of every 
Christian. In a few years, however, tliey out- 
lived the unmerited calumnies which were cast 
upon them ; and, through the Divine blessing, 
were favoured with peace and spiritual pros- 
perity. 

For more than twenty years they have sup- 
ported a Mission in Ireland ; that Mission has 
gradually enlarged, so that at the present time 
they have more than twenty Missionaries in the 
field preaching in English and in Irish, besides 
a number of Scripture Readers. For the last 
five years that Mission has progressed with great 
rapidity, so that by its increased means of use- 
fulness, it is gradually becoming a greater bless- 
ing to the inhabitants of that morally benighted 
country. 

For many years past, the Methodists of the 
New Connexion have been convinced, from a 
view of the spiritual destitution of many parts of 
the world, and of the means which God has 
placed at their disposal, that it was their imper- 
ative duty to open a foreign Mission. For se- 
veral successive Conferences the subject was 
discussed. At length the Canadas were fixed 
upon as the scene of their benevolent operations. 
Several reasons brought them to the conclusion, 



Introduction. vii. 

that the Canadas presented the strongest claims 
to their sympathies. In 1837, at the Confer- 
ence held in Leeds, they appointed an Agent 
(Mr. Addyman) to visit the Canadas, and to 
select a field of labour for himself and other 
Missionaries that would be sent. The Agent 
commenced his Missionary ^york in Lower Cana- 
da, where the Almighty, by a singular providence, 
opened his way into many important and desti- 
tute places, wliich are now occupied by other 
agents of the same body. 

In the early part of 1840, the Agent made a 
tour through a great part of the Upper Province, 
for the purpose of ascertaining its spiritual state, 
and its general means of Religious instruction. 
During that tour, he became acquainted with the 
Canadian Wesleyaii Methodists at Hamilton. 
A union was then suggested, and from various 
considerations, and particularly from a routine 
of coincident circumstances, it did appear that 
such a union was favoured by Di^dne providence. 
At the ensuing Conference of the Canadian 
Wesleyan Methodists, held at Cavan in 1840, 
the representatives of the two bodies met to- 
gether, and adopted terms of union subject to 
the approval or disapproval of each body. Gen- 
erally, the terms of union were approved, and 
at the last Annual Conference in 1841, held at 
Hamilton, the union was unanimously consum- 
mated. In consequence of the change occasioned 



viii. Introduction. 

by the union, it was deemed necessary by the 
Conference that a new Book of Discipline should 
be immediately prepared. The Annual Com- 
mittee were therefore requested to direct their 
attention to that important business. 

Having given the above explanation of the 
reason which led us to publish this Book of Dis- 
cipline, we now send it forth amongst you, with 
our fervent prayers for your happiness and 
prosperity. 

We hope to see this little work extensively 
circulated ; for nothing is more important, next 
to a knowledge of the word of God, than that 
our own members should be well acquainted 
with the Doctrines we teach, and the Discipline 
by which we are governed, and trained to habits 
of usefulness and fitness for heaven. 

The Rules contained in this Book will be your 
guide. They provide for the peculiarity of 
Missionary operations — for maturing the Mis- 
sionary stations — and for their settlement into re- 
gular circuits. They provide also for the govern- 
ment of your various Meetings and Offices, and for 
the maintainance of that wholesome discipline 
amongst you, which is essential to your individ^ 
ual comfort, and to your collective welfare. 

Most devoutly do we pray, that Preachers and 
People may be united as the heart of one man- 
that whilst walking by these rules, both your 
piety and usefulness may be promoted — and 



Introduction. 



that the great Head of the Church may pour out 
His Spirit, and abundantly prosper you, through 
Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and glory for 
ever. 



TERMS OF UNION. 



1. That the Local Preachers now in the 
Canadian Wesleyan Methodist Church be en- 
titled to stand in the same relation to the united 
body, and enjoy the same privileges they now 
do in the Canadian Wesleyan Church. And 
all Local Preachers hereafter received, shall 
submit to the Rules, and graduate according to 
the Regulations of the Methodist New Connex- 
ion, and enjoy such privileges as it provides. 

2. That the forms for Sacraments, Marriages, 
and Ordination of Elders, used among the Cana- 
dian Wesleyans, be retained. 

3. That the Canadian Wesleyan Methodist 
Circuit Preachers be received into the united 
body, according to their various standings in 
that community. 

4. That for the present, the name of the 
united body be the Canadian Wesleyan Metho- 
dist New Connexion. 

5. That twenty pounds per annum (subject 
to future alteration, as the case may require), be 
allowed from the English Missionary fund to- 
wards the support of a married, and twelve 



Terms of Union. xi. 

pounds per annum towards the support of a 
single preacher. These sums to form the maxi- 
mum of allowance, and that it be left to the 
discretion of the Superintendant of the Mission, 
with the assistance of the Conference, to appor- 
tion the grants with a due regard to economy, 
and the necessities of each particular case. 

6. That a Paternal and Beneficent Fund be 
j established, for the encouragement of which the 
I Missionary Society agree to grant the sum of 

thirty pounds annually to each fund, until in 
the judgment of the Conference it shall not be 
longer necessary. 

7. The Canadian Conference to have the di- 
rection of the work in Canada, assisted by the 
representative of the Methodist New Connexion 
in England, as the Superintendant of the Mis- 
sion, who shall be a member of the Canadian 
Conference ex-officioy and Corresponding Mem- 
ber of the Annual Committee. It will be the 
duty of said representative, or general superin- 
tendant, to see that all engagements connected 
with claims on the Mission fund are faithfully 

I performed, and to assist the Conference to carry 
out the benevolent plans contemplated by the 
I union. 

I 8. That to ensure, so far as prudential means 
1 can accomplish the object, a supply of suitable 
j Preachers for the wants of the united body, the 
Wesleyville Institution be established to afford 



xii. Terms of Union. 

the means of instruction for a limited period* 
And that in the first instance, suitable young 
men, connected with the religious community 
in Canada, be selected, or young men recom- 
mended from England by the Missionary Com- 
mittee. 

9. That the stations of the Methodist New 
Connexion in the Eastern part of this province 
(formerly called Lower Canada) be united with 
the Canadian Conference. 

10. As Missionary exertions are employed to 
gather precious souls into the Church of Christ, 
and extend the Redeemer's Kingdom, so the 
exertions of the English Methodist New Con- 
nexion Missionary Society will be directed to 
the establishment of an active, prosperous, and 
permanent distinct community in Canada. That 
as this important end is attained by the formation 
of circuits, the introduction of the system, and 
the Missionary stations becoming so many parts 
of the body ; in that proportion the influence of 
the English Connexion shall cease in its concerns, 
and the body in Canada shall become a distinct 
religious community, united only to the Breth- 
ren in England in Christian love, and in those 
kind oflices which will always be proper and 
acceptable. 



DOCTRINES AND DISCIPLINE 



OF THE 

CANADIAN WESLEYAN METHODIST 
NEW CONNEXION CHURCH. 

SECTION I. 

or CANDIDATES AND ADMISSION INTO SOCIETY. 

1. Persons desirous of uniting with our Soci- 
eties are required to evidence an earnest concern 
for the salvation of their souls, by a diligent at- 
tendance on our means of grace, and by ceasing 
to do evil, and learning to do well. 

2. When persons first begin to meet in Class 
they shall be considered under the watch-care 
of the Church, till they give satisfactory evidence 
of their religious experience, then they shall be 
received into full connexion in the Church. The 
mode of admission shall be by the Preacher, at 
a Society Meeting, with exhortation and prayer. 
If, however, a person wishes to be received 
more privately, and there is reason for such a 
wish ; the Leaders' Meeting, and if there be no 
Leaders' Meeting, the Society Meeting will 
doubtless endeavour to meet such views. 

3. It is expected that those persons who are 
admitted into our Society, should procure a copy 
of our Rules, that they may make themselves 
well acquainted with our Doctrines and Discipline. 

A 



14 



Members of Society* 



SECTION II. 

CONCERNING MEMBEBS OF SOCIETY. 

1. Persons admitted into church -fellowship 
with us, shall be required to meet weekly in 
Class, or as frequently as possible. 

2. For the support of the Ministry amongst 
us, and to discharge other pecuniary demands 
(unless prevented by real inability) all our Mem- 
bers are expected to contribute at least one 
quarter of a dollar per quarter ; our more affluent 
friends shall contribute according to the greater 
ability with which God hath blest them, that the 
deficiency of our poor Members may be supplied. 

3. All our Members shall diligently attend 
the public and private means of grace with which, 
as a religious community, we are favored : and 
especially that most invaluable ordinance, the 
Supper of the Lord. 

4. It is the duty of our Members to cultivate 
a spirit of brotherly affection towards one another, 
and to manifest this spirit by promoting each 
other's welfare, preferring each other in business, 
advising each other in difficulty, and defending 
each other in character ; encouraging to duty ; 
admonishing in error, and restoring when fallen ; 
comforting in distress, visiting in affliction, and 
assisting in need ; thus shall we bear each other's 
burdens, and the household of faith will be es- 
tablished. 

5. Should one Member consider himself in« 
jured by another, he shall conform to our Lord's 
direction : " If thy brother shall trespass against 
thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and 
him alone ; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained 
thy brother ; but if he shall not hear thee, then 



Members of Society. 



15 



take \yith thee one or two more, tbat in the 
mouth of two or three witnesses every word 
may be established ; and if he shall neglect to 
hear them, tell it mito the Church : but if he 
neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee 
as an heathen man and a publican." Mat. xviii. 
15—17. 

6. Brother ought not to go to law wdth 
brother, but should first endeavour to adjust ex- 
isting differences through the mediation of mutual 
friends ; and our Members are exhorted to sub- 
rait their differences to this reasonable and scrip- 
tural mode of adjustment. 

7. Should a Member become insolvent, and • 
make an assignment, or become bankrupt, or 
take the benefit of any Legislative Act, whereby 
he shall not pay his creditors their full demands, 
it shall be the duty of the Church to enquire 
into such case, that the character of our upright 
but unfortunate Members may be satisfactorily 
sustained, and that those who are guilty of dis- 
honesty may be excluded from amongst us. It 
is also expected from those Members who have 
failed in business, or have contracted debts for 
which they have ceased to be legally responsible, 
that, if they afterwards become possessed of 
property, they pay, as soon as possible their 
former deficiencies, and fulfil their former con- 
tracts. 

8. If a brother be overtaken in a fault, his 
Leader shall be informed thereof ; wdien such 
Leader shall endeavour to restore his oflPending 
brother with faithfulness and affection. 

9. Any Member guilty of causing disturb- 
ances, of indulging in slandering or tale-bearing ; 
of refusing to pay his lawful debts, of propagat^^ 

A 2 



16 



Members of Society. 



ing* false doctrines, of refusing to be governed 
by our rules, or of immoral conduct, shall, for 
the first offence be reproved ; for the second be 
suspended from the enjoyment of church privi- 
leges for such time as shall be deemed necessary ; 
and for the third be expelled. But should the 
crime be flagrant or notorious, then, upon due 
evidence thereof, he shall be put out immediately. 

10. As forming part of the universal Church 
of Christ, our people are called upon to entertain 
liberal feelings, and to cherish a friendly dispo- 
sition towards professing Christians of other 
denominations ; and to evidence the same by al- 
lowing them a place at the Supper of the Lord, 
and in other social means of grace, by rendering 
them the kind offices of brethren, by giving them 
an interest in our prayers, and by rejoicing in 
their prosperity. 

11. It is incumbent upon our Members, under 
the various circumstances, and in all the relations 
in which they are placed by Divine Providence, 
to exercise themselves to have a conscience void 
of oifence towards God and man. As to their 
private duties, they should examine themselves 
whether they be in the faith, possessing the power 
as well as the form of godliness, and growing in 
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus 
Christ ; they should search the Scriptures daily ; 
be regular in secret prayer ; frequent in devout 
meditation ; and in all things, walk humbly with 
God. As husbands and wives, they are to be 
patterns of fidelity, helpers to each other in their 
worldly cares and in the way to heaven. As 
parents, it devolves upon them to provide for the 
temporal and spiritual wants of their children ; 
attending to their instruction, leading them ta 



Members of Society. 



17 



the house of God, coiifirniiiig their precepts by 
a holy example, and crowning the whole by 
their strict attention to the exercises of family 
devotion. The pious children united with ns 
are, by their good conduct, to be the joy and 
comfort of their parents ; behaving towards them 
with aifection, and rendering to them due obe- 
dience : administering to them in necessity, and 
supporting them in old age. As members of 
civil society, it is the duty of all our people to 
submit themselves to the constituted authority of 
the state, to maintain the laws of the land : to 
promote peace and good order around them, and 
to implore the divine blessing on kings, gover- 
nors, magistrates, and on all classes of our 
fellow subjects. As masters and servants, they 
are to be exemplary in performing their respec- 
tive duties ; as neighbours, to be kind ; as friends, 
to be confidential ; and to be courteous and be- 
nevolent in all their social intercourse. In the 
world, our people are to be diligent in business, 
punctual in their engagements, and upright in 
their dealings ; useful in public offices, and faith- 
ful in all their trusts ; to be patterns of temper- 
ance and frugahty, avoiding places of dissipation 
and public amusement ; to flee the appearance 
of evil, and to delight in tlie company of the 
righteous. They should never forget *the higli 
character wliich Christians are to sustain as the 
" salt of the earth," and the light of the Vv orld 
and that it is expressly enjoined by the great 
head of the church himself : " Let your hght so 
shine before men, that they may see your" good 
works and glorify your Father which is in 
heaven." 

A 3 



18 Bringing an accused Member to TriaL 
SECTION III. 

MODE OF BRINGING AN ACCUSED MEMBER TO TRIAL. 

1. Every accused person, whether Preacher 
or Layman, shall not be expelled or suspended 
from the enjoyment of liis Church privileges, 
until he has had a fair trial according to Rule. 

2. Every accused person shall have sent him 
officially a copy of the charges preferred against 
him, one week previous to trial ; that he may be 
prepared to examine witnesses, and make his 
defence on his trial. 

3. The Quarterly, or a Special Circuit Meeting, 
shall be competent to inquire into any charge 
brought against any Circuit Preacher, in regard 
to immoral conduct, preaching false doctrine, 
or gross neglect of duty ; but no such charge 
shall be entertained, unless the Preacher has had 
seven days' previous notice of its nature, and of 
the time of bringing it forward. In conducting 
this enquiry, the Meeting shall hear the charge 
and evidence in the presence of the Preacher 
accused, and also his defence against the same ; 
after which it shall determine, in the fear of 
God, and, if necessary, it shall suspend the 
Preacher till the ensuing Conference. When 
circumstances allow, the Superintendant Preach- 
er, or Circuit Stewards^ shall previously consult 
or obtain the assistance of the Annual Commit- 
tee, and in all cases shall give an early account 
of its proceedings to the Corresponding Member 
of the Annual Committee. 

4. E very Layman shall be tried by the Leaders 
Meeting, in the presence of the Preacher ; but 
where there is no Leaders' Meeting, the Society 
to which the accused belongs^ with the Superin- 



Leaders and their Meetings. 



19 



tendant Preacher, or in his absence one of his 
Brethren, shall be competent to try the accused 
person. But should the accused object to this 
mode of trial, and be able to make it appear to 
the Executive Preacher, that he is not likely to 
obtain justice, then, he may be tried by a Com- 
mittee of five persons : two to be chosen by the 
accused, two by the Executive Preacher, and 
the Preacher to form the fifth, who shall be 
Chairman, and have the casting vote. 

5. Should any accused Member feel himself 
aggrieved by the decision of the Meeting ap- 
pointed to try his case, he shall have the liberty 
of appealing to the Quarterly Meeting,* upon 
giving the Superintendant one week's notice of 
his intention. 



SECTION lY, 

LEADERS AND THEIR MEETINGS. 

1. It is essentia] that every person who enters 
upon the important office of Leader, should pos- 
sess the following qualifications: 1. Sound 
Christian experience. 2. Holiness of life. 3. 
Clear views of the gospel. 4. That degree of 
aptness to teach, which vnll render him accepta- 
ble. 5. Approved stability and attachment to 
our system. 6. A firm determination to main- 
tain our discipline. 7. Affection for the souls 
entrusted to his care. And 8. A full purpose 
of heart to be useful to his Class, to his Breth- 
ren, and to the World. 

2. In appointing a Leader, the following 
method shall be adopted. The Class shall be 



* The term Quarterly Meeting- denotes that Meeting which is 
commonly termed in tliis country, the Quarterly Conference. 



20 Leaders and their Meetings, 

entitled to recommend a person to the consider- 
ation of the Leaders' Meeting ; but the Leaders' 
Meeting shall have the right of nominating for 
the office. The nomination made by the Lead- 
ers shall be communicated, first, to the Class, 
and then to the person proposed, for their con- 
currence. If either dissent, a second nomination 
shall take place, and so on till a suitable person 
be found. In new or small societies, where 
there is no Leaders' Meeting, the appointment 
of Leader shall rest with the Superintendant 
Preacher of the Circuit, and the Members 
of the Class. The brother who has been chosen 
shall then be furnished with a copy of the follow- 
ing questions, which he shall be required to 
answer as in the presence of God, either at the 
next Leaders' Meeting, or at a meeting appointed 
for the purpose. 

1. Do you believe in the fall and universal 

depravity of man ? 

2. Do you believe in the divinity of Christ ? 

3. Do you believe that Christ died for ail 

men ? 

4. Do you believe in the necessity of repen- 

tance, faith, and holiness ? 

5. Do you believe in the immediate influence 

of the Holy Spirit producing these 
effects. 

6. Do you believe in the necessity of holding 

fast, faith, and persevering in good 
works ? 

7. Have you a clear experience of God's 

favour ? 

8. Have you power over sin ? 

9. Do you approve our rules, and will you 

enforce them ? 



Leaders and their 3Ieetings, 21 



10. Will you be faithfal in discharging the 
duties of a Leader ? 
Having answered these questions, the brother 
shall retire while the Leaders' Meeting forms 
its resolution thereon, which shall be done with 
strict impartiality and faithfulness. If there 
appear just ground to set aside the nomination, 
it shall be communicated to the Class, and to the 
brother concerned in the most tender manner ; 
but if the nomination be confirmed, then the 
brother appointed shall be called in again, and 
be received into office by exhortation and prayer. 

3. A Leader may have an Assistant w^hen 
necessary ; who shall be nominated and chosen 
as the Leader. The Assistant shall lead the 
Class in the absence of his Leader, and, that he 
may receive his advice, occasionally in his pre- 
sence ; he shall assist the Leader in all the duties 
appertaining to his office : but shall not release 
the Leader from his proper responsibilities. 

4. Each Leader shall meet his Class w^eekly, 
and after singing and prayer, relate his own re- 
ligious experience ; he shall then inquire into the 
spiritual state of his Members, administering to 
them, with all long-suffering and faithfulness, 
that encouragement, instruction, and reproof, 
which their cases require. His manner sjiall be 
affectionate and lively ; and at the close of the 
Meeting he shall call over the names of his 
Members, enquire after those that are absent and 
the cause of their absence, which he shall note 
down in his Class Book, that it may be a faithful 
index of the state of his Class. He shall espe- 
cially visit his sick Members ; comfort those who 
are in distress ; seek after the negligent ; and 
endeavour to restore those that are fallen. He 



22 Leaders and their Meetmgs, 

shall urge his Members to a punctual attendance 
on the Lord's Supper, and all other means of 
^ grace. 

* 5. A Meeting, consisting of the Leaders, Socie- 
ty Stewards, Circuit Preachers, and a Represen- 
tative for each Female and Circuit Preacher's 
. Classes, shall regulate the affairs of each Society 
and public place of worship. Such Meeting 
shall be held at a convenient hour, weekly or 
once a fortnight as may be found necessary, and 
shall be opened with singing, and be concluded 
in seasonahje time with prayer. 

6. The Leaders' Meeting shall carefully at- 
tend to all those affairs which come within its 
province : viz, the regular payment of Class- 
money into the hands of the Steward ; directing 
or sanctioning the disbursements ; an examina- 
tion of the Class Books, with special enquiry 
after the sick, that they may be visited ; filling 
up vacancies or electing new officers ; determin- 
ing on notices for the pulpit, and the times of 
such announcements ; and superintending all 
other matters which appertain to the Society. 
It shall also be the duty of the Leaders to con- 
sider what plans of usefulness may be devised ; 
zealously and prayerfully carrying them out into 
actual and continued operation. 

7. The Leaders' Meeting shall co-operate 
with the Preachers, in carrying into effect the 
Rules of the Connexion and the Resolutions of 
Conference ; so that proper disciphne may be 
maintained, and the hands of our Preachers be 
strengthened in the duties with which they are 
entrusted. 



Society Stewards, 



23 



SECTION V. 

SOCIETY STEWARDS. 

1. To each Society there shall be two Stew- 
ards chosen from its Diembers, one of wTiom 
shall act as Treasurer, and the other as Secre- 
tary, agreeably to their appointment : they shall 
be persons of stabihty ; acquainted with our 
Rules, and attached to our system ; men of order 
and diligence ; discreet in the management of 
their own aflPairs, and able to manage the tempo- 
ral concerns of the Society. Providing other 
suitable brethren can be found to undertake the 
office, neither Local Preachers nor Leaders 
shall be chosen for Society Stewards. 

2. The Society Stewards shall be nominated 
by the Leaders' fleeting, (but where there is no 
Leaders' jMeeting by the Superintendant) and 
appointed by a Society Meeting, to be held im- 
mediately after the January Quarterly Meeting. 
They shall be changed or re-elected annually ; but 
should they at any time prove unworthy of their 
office, or become unable to perform its duties, 
the Leaders' ^Meeting, after full investigation, 
shall represent the case to the Society, that they 
may be removed from their Stewardship, and 
others be immediately appointed in their place. 

3. The Treasurer Steward shall take charge 
of lighting and cleaning the chapel, and of all 
other matters and arrangements connected with 
the comfortable maintenance of divine worship : 
he shall prepare the provision for the Lord's 
Supper and Love Feasts, and see that the col- 
lections arising therefrom (after defraying ex- 
penses) are distributed each quarter amongst the 
poor ?>fembers, or are otherwise disposed of, 



24 



Society Stewards. 



under tlie direction of the Leaders' Meeting. 
He shall take charge of and receive all Society 
and Conference Collections, and pay them oveV 
according to the Rules of the Connexion ; he 
shall also receive the monies at the Leaders' 
Meeting, and discharge the current demands 
thereon : he shall pay the proper quarterage for 
the Society into the hands of the Circuit Stew- 
ard at or before the Quarterly Meeting, and the 
Leaders' Meeting shall take care to supply him 
from time to time with the means of making 
these payments, that the Society may be kept 
clear of debt, and its affairs be agreeably con- 
ducted. 

4. The Secretary Steward shall keep the 
accounts, but the books shall be accessible to 
his colleague: he shall also prepare or revise 
notes for the pulpit : he shall enter the proceed- 
ings at the Leaders' Meetings ; bring before 
them the order of business to be transacted ; he 
shall assist at the Collections, and Love Feasts. 
He shall bring forward the Members on trial, 
and register those who are admitted into Society : 
he shall enter correctly, and keep the names of 
the Members, Class by Class, with the places of 
abode: and otherwise faithfully perform the 
duties of his office. 

5. The Secretary Steward shall prepare a 
statement of the Society's receipts, distinguishing 
the several Collections, and the amount raised by 
each Class ; and also a detailed account of the 
disbursements, to be submitted to the first 
Leaders' Meeting after each Quarterly Meet- 
ing, accompanied with the proper vouchers ; 
and these accounts, after being duly approved, 
balanced and signed by the Chairman in its 



Quarterly Meeting, 



25 



behalf, shall be read over at the next Fellowship 
or Weeknight Meeting of the Society, for its in- 
formation. 



SECTION yi. 

QUARTERLY MEETING. 

1. In each Circuit, there shall be a Quarterly 
Meeting for transacting its general business, to 
be held in January, April, July, and October, 
at such time and place as shall be agreed upon, 
which shall be duly published. 

2. The Quarterly Meeting shall be composed 
of the Circuit Preachers and Circuit Stewards, 
the Secretary of the Local Preachers, and Re- 
presentatives of the people chosen from the 
Local Preachers, Leaders, Trustees being Mem- 
bers, and other experienced persons from our dif- 
ferent Societies. Each Society shall send one 
or more Representatives according to the num- 
ber of its Members ; and a scale for the regula- 
tion of each Circuit, shall be fixed upon for the 
year by the April Quarterly Meeting. Any 
Other Members of Society shall, nevertheless, 
have free admission to the Quarterly Meetings, 
with liberty to give their opinions ; subject to 
the regulation of the Chairman, and of a majority 
of the Meeting, but they are not to vote. 

3. The Quarterly Meeting shall begin and 
conclude with singing and prayer. Christian 
temper should govern both the language and 
deliberations of the Meeting. The Chairman 
should act with impartiahty, and his authority 
therefore must be maintained. 

4. The Quarterly Meeting shall pay the • 
Preachers' salaries, and other incidental expenses, 

B 



26 



Quarterly Meeting* 



agreeably to the Rules of the Connexion ; they 
shall also pay the expenses of the Representatives 
(if required) to and from Conference ; they shall 
likewise pay for the Minutes ordered on behalf 
of the Circuits, and all other just demands 
chargeable on that Meeting. 

5. The Quarterly Meeting shall fix what each 
Society shall contribute, according to its num- 
bers and privileges, keeping in mind the average 
payment for Members (as required by rule), the 
ability of each Society, and also its local expen- 
ses : and it shall be the duty of each Quarterly 
Meeting to adapt its expenditure to its income, 
so that every demand may be punctually dis- 
charged. 

6. The Quarterly Meeting shall determine 
on any alteration in the quantity of Preachers, 
governing itself as far as possible by the wishes 
of the Societies interested : it shall also admit 
new places for preaching, or set others aside, 
which have been tried to no purpose : — it shall 
have power to apply to the Annual Committee 
for temporal supplies of preaching during the 
sickness of a Preacher, or for any additional 
labour that may be wanted ; it shall also deter- 
mine upon matters of appeal with impartiality 
and wisdom, or refer them to Conference as it 
shall see proper. 

7. The Quarterly Meeting shall admit per- 
sons on the Plan as Exhorters, and Local 
Preachers on trial, pass them through the several 
stages of their probation, and afterwards receive 
them into office as full Local Preachers. It 
shall also recommend Local Preachers to be 
taken X)ut to travel ; determine upon and prepare 
the Preachers' testimonials at the April Quar- 



Quarterly Meeting. 27 



terly Meeting ; and appoint or confirm the ap- 
pointment of Representatives to Conference ; 
and, lastly, prepare the Preachers' Certificates ; 
the whole according to the Rules laid down on 
these several heads. 

8. Whenever a Quarterly Meeting shall 
judge it needful to divide a Circuit, or to employ 
an additional Preacher, a copy of the Resolution 
passed to that effect shall be sent to Conference, 
where the matter shall be considered and de- 
cided upon. 

9. The number of Minutes wanted for the 
following year shall be ascertained at the April 
Quarterly Meeting, and the Representative be 
instructed to order them at the charge of the 
Circuit. 

10. The January Quarterly Meeting shall 
nominate persons from whom the Lay Repre- 
sentative shall be chosen, each Circuit adopting 
its own mode of election ; and the April Quar- 
terly Meeting shall either appoint or confirm the 
appointment of such Representative, requiring 
from him a pledge that he will attend all the 
sittings of Conference, and furnishing both him 
and the Preacher whom it sends, with the ne- 
cessary credentials and instructions. 

11. A Special Circuit Meeting to be consti- 
tuted as the Quarterly Meeting, may be called 
by the Superintendant and Circuit Steward, or 
either of them, whenever circumstances may in 
their judgment render it necessary. A Circular, 
stating the object for which the Meeting is called, 
the time, and place for holding it, shall be ad- 
dressed to the Stewards of each Society, and to 
all the official persons specified in the Rules for 
constituting a Quarterly Meeting, at least three 

B 2 



28 



Quarterly Meeting* 



flays before it takes place, that sufficient oppor- 
tunity may be afforded for deliberation and 
electing* according to Rule. Representatives to 
attend the Meeting. The said Meeting shall be 
fully competent to determine on the matters for 
which it was called, but on no other, and its re- 
solutions in regard to such matters shall be bind- 
ing ; but unless the Meeting be so called and 
constituted, it shall be considered irregular, and 
its proceedings of no effect. 

12. The following questions shall be proposed 
at each April Quarterly Meeting; the answer 
to which shall be entered in the Circuit Book, 
and a certified copy thereof be forwarded along 
with the Credentials to Conference. 

1. Respecting a single Preacher : — Has 

he been com.fortably accommodated 
through the year with board, lodging, 
and with suitable opportunities for pur- 
suing his studies ? 

2. Respecting a married Preacher : — Have 

his demands on the Circuit been regu- 
larly paid ? Has he been provided 
with a suitable house ? 

3. Respecting the Superintendant : — Has 

he been properly supported in main- 
taining discipline, and in enforcing the 
Laws of the Connexion ? 

13. The Quarterly and Special Circuit 
Meetings shall support the Preachers in carrying 
into effect the Laws of the Connexion and the 
Resolutions of Conference, that proper discipline 
may be maintained in our Circuits ; and it shall 
also be the endeavour of those Meetings, on all 
occasions, to go hand in hand with the Trustees 
of our Chapels, and to consult them in those 



Circuit Stewards, ^9 

matters where their rights and interests are con- 
cerned. 

SECTION VII. 

CIRCUIT STEWARDS. 

1. Each Circuit shall have two Stewards for 
the management of its temporal affairs. They 
shall be Members of our Society, attached to our 
system, conversant w^ith our Rules, of approved 
stability, accustomed to business, and if possible 
having the means as w^ell as the disposition to 
serve the Circuit. They shall be appointed or 
re-appointed at the January Quarterly Meeting, 
I and shall continue two years in office, the Senior 
retiring each year, to make room, for his suc- 
cessor: but the Quarterly Meeting shall have 
power to change either or both of them, should 
i they deem it proper, and also to remove them 
i from office, at any time, when, after due inves- 
tigation, that step shall be judged necessary. 
I 2. It shall be their province to attend the 
1 Quarterly Meeting, and to see that suitabla 
! provision is made for its accommodation: they 
1 shall receive the payments of the different Soci- 
i eties, and disburse them according to the order 
I , of the Meeting : they shall enter the receipts 
I and payments, and duly balance them: they 
i shall record the Resolutions of the Meeting, and 
I read both them and the accounts over at its 
I, close: they shall assist the Superintendant 
: Preacher in preparing a Minute of the businee* 
i to be transacted, and also aid him in carryings 
the Resolutions into effect. They shall be con- 

IjSidered Members of the Quarterly Meeting, 
< B S 

i 



30 Quarterly Meeting. 



from the Meeting next following their appoint- 
ment. 

3. It shall likewise be their duty to provide 
houses and the necessary furniture for the 
Preachers, under the direction of the Quarterly, 
or a Special Circuit Meeting ; also to any urgent 
repairs being done, and any pressing wants sup- 
plied in the interval betwixt the Quarterly 
Meetings, but limited to such amount as the rule 
of the Circuit shall determine. They shall take 
an annual inventory of the furniture in each 
house, examine into its condition, and lay a true 
statement thereof before the Quarterly Meeting 
previous to Conference. 

4. They shall annually register in the Circuit 
Books the names of all the Members in each 
Society, Class by Class, receive the yearly, and 
other Collections belonging to their department : 
enter the particulars into the Circuit Book, and 
pay the amount to the Lay Representative, for 
the disposal of Conference. They shall bring 
forward the choice of Representatives in due 
course, and prepare, according to Rule, their 
credentials, and all other Circuit documents to 
be sent to Conference. 

5. So far as may be practicable, the two 
Stewards shall divide the duties of their office, 
after the manner of the Society Stewards, as 
may best suit their convenience, rendering each 
other all needful assistance; but should they 
reside in different parts of the Circuit, each shall 
take charge of his separate District, under the^ 
regulations of the Quarterly Meeting. 



Exhorters — Local Preachers^ d^c, 31 



SECTION YIII. 

EXHOKTEES. 

1. When any of our [Members feel desirous; 
of acting as Exhorters, their wishes shall be sig- 
nified to the Leaders' Meeting, and where there 
is no Leaders' Meeting, to the Superintendant 
Preacher, who shall judge of their fitness for the 
work. 

2. It shall be the duty of the Superintendant 
Preacher to give them suitable appointments, 
till he has had an opportunity of deciding whether 

f they are competent to be placed upon the plan 
as regular Exhorters. 

3. When Exhorters are acknowledged by the 
Quarterly Meeting, and receive appointments 
on the Plan, they shall be subject to the authority 
of that Meeting : which shall take them under 
its charge, regulate theii* duties, encourage the 
meritorious, and set aside those who are negli- 
gent or unacceptable. 

4. The Exhorters shall address tlie people on 
the most necessary spiritual subjects ; they shall 
be lively and aiiectionate in their manner ; and 
their exhortations shall be short, pointed, and 

I practical. 

SECTION IX. 

LOCAL PEEACHERS AyD THEIE MEETING?. 

1. It is essential that all our Local Preacher* 
be experimentaly accquainted with the things of 
God, and adorn that Gospel which they preach ; 
they should have correct views of the funda- 
mental doctrines of the gospel, and be able to 
express their views profitably to the people ; 



32 Local Preachers and their Meetings. 

they should also feel persuaded of their call to 
the work, and be determined plainly and faith- 
fully to proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus. 

2. When any person in exhorting, or other 
religious exercises, has given evidence of such 
qualifications as render it desirable to bring him 
forward as a Local Preacher, he shall first be 
proposed to the Leaders' Meeting belonging to 
the Society of which he is a Member ; secondly, 
to the Local Preachers' Meeting, and lastly to 
the Quarterly Meeting ; and, on being approved 
by all these Meetings in succession, his name 
shall be entered on the Plan as a Local Preacher 
on trial. 

3. In those places where there is no Leaders' 
or Local Preachers' Meeting, a Meeting of the 
Society of which he is a Member, called for the 
purpose (at which the Superintendant or a 
Preacher under his direction is present), shall 
recommend, and the Quarterly Meeting sanction 
his admission as a Local Preacher on trial. 

4. Local Preachers shall continue four quar- 
ters on their probation, or so much longer as the 
Quarterly Meeting shall deem expedient. Dur- 
ing this term, an appointment shall be given 
them, where it is practicable, in each of the prin- 
cipal places in the Circuit, that the people may 
judge of their talents and proficiency. 

5. When a Local Preacher has been on pro- 
bation four quarters, the Local Preachers' Meet- 
ing shall consider his case, and fully express its 
opinion, whether he be qualified for admission 
on full Plan or not : this opinion shall be entered 
into the Local Preachers' Book of proceedings, 
and be laid before the ensuing Quarterly Meeting. 

6. After a Local Preacher on trial has been 



Local Preachers and their Meetings, 33 



approved by the Local Preachers' Meeting, he 
shall be proposed, during his absence, to the 
Quarterly Meeting ; and, unless it resolve to 
continue his probation, he shall be introduced to 
the Meeting, and be questioned by the Superin- 
tendant Preacher ; first, as to his religious ex- 
perience ; second, as to our doctrines, article by 
article ; thirdly, as to our mode of Church gov- 
ernment ; fourthly, as to his call to and views of 
preaching the Gospel ; and fifthly, as to con- 
forming to the regulations of the Circuit, and 
being zealous in the great work before him. 
After answering these questions, the Candidate 
shall retire while the jSJeeting considers his re- 
phes. If his statement be satisfactory to the 
Meeting, he shall be received as a Local Preacher 
on full Plan, with an appropriate address from 
the Superintendaut, and with prayer. Should 
the Quarterly Meeting judge it necessary to 
prolong his trial, a deputation shall be ap- 
pointed to communicate the determination of the 
Meeting, which shall be done with suitable 
advice. 

7. Should any Local Preacher on trial feel 
himself aggrieved at the Local Preachers' iMeet- 
ing neglecting to consider his case, or at report- 
ing unfavourably thereon to the Quarterly 
Meeting, or at their recommendation to lengthen 
his probation, he shall be entitled to appeal to 
the following Quarterly Meeting, on giving 
seven days notice thereof to the Superintendaut 
Preacher, or Circuit Steward, in writing ; and 
the Quarterly Meeting shall investigate the case, 
and either reverse or confirm what the Local 
Preachers' Meeting has done. 

8. Every Local Preacher, whether on full 



34 Local Preachers and their Meetings* 

Plan or on trial, shall conform to the discipline 
of the Circuit, especially in being punctual to 
his appointments, and in attending* the Local 
Preachers' Meetings. And it shall be his duty 
whenever unable to attend his appointments, to 
use his utmost endeavours to get them supplied 
by one or more of his brethren whose names are 
on the Plan. 

9. The Circuit and Local Preachers shall 
meet once in each quarter, previously to the 
Quarterly Meeting of the Circuit, at such time 
and place as shall be agreed upon. 

10. In the absence of the Superintendant 
Preacher, the next Preacher shall act as Chair- 
man ; or in the absence of the Circuit Preacher 
a Local Preacher shall be appointed by the 
Meeting : a Secretary also shall be chosen, who 
shall record the proceedings and take charge of 
the Minutes thereof, in order to present them to 
the Quarterly Meeting for its decision, in which 
he shall have a seat. 

11. It shall be the duty of the Local Preachers' 
Meeting to notice such alterations as they think 
are advisable, in the hours or places of preach- 
ing, and to enquire into any neglect of appoint- 
ments. For the information of the Quarterly 
Meeting it shall also receive the recommendations 
of the Leaders' or Society Meeting as to Ex- 
horters or Local Preachers, examine into the 
conduct and improvement of the brethren on 
trial, and, if required, shall give its opinion on 
each case to the Quarterly Meeting. 

12. The Local Preachers in their Meeting 
shall endeavour to spend some time in promoting 
their mental and spiritual improvement, and 
that their Meeting may be profitable to others 



Circuit Preachers. 35 



as well as to themselves : the Meeting shall be 
so arranged, if possible, that a watch-night may 
be held for public edification. The Meeting 
shall begin and end with prayer. 



SECTION X. 

CIRCUIT PREACHEBS. 

1. The qualifications necessary for a Circuit 
Preacher are, sound experience in divine things, 
exemplary piety, acceptable ministerial talents, 
the fruits of ministerial labours, a willingness to 
bear the hardships of an itinerant life, a firm 
purpose to conform to, as well as enforce, the 
discipline of the Connexion, a holy resolution to 
be faithful and persevering in all ministerial 

I duties, and in mireserved dedication of time and 
talents to God, for the promotion of his glory 
and the salvation of precious souls. 

2. No persons shall be called out as Circuit 
Preachers but such as have been approved by 
the Society where they live, by a majority of 

I the Local Preachers, Stewards, and Leaders, 

j forming one Meeting ; and, lastly, by a majority 

I of the Quarterly Meeting of the Circuit, 
j 3. It shall be the duty of the Quarterly 

Meeting faithfully to weigh, and impartially to 

I determine, on the merits of every candidate : it 

j shall consider how far he possesses the requisite 

qualifications for the work, and also if he has 

I strength of body equal to the labours thereof. 

I If its determination be favourable, then the 

!, Candidate shall be called before the Meeting, 

i| and the Superintendant Preacher shall propose 

' to him the following questions, which he shall 

I answer in the fear of God. 



36 Circuit Preachers, 



1. Have you a lively faith in Christ? and 

as an evidence of it, do you enjoy a 
sense of the divine favour ? 

2. Have you power over sin ? and are you 

pressing after holiness ? 

3. Do you believe yourself divinely called 

to the work of the Ministry ? 

4. Do you know and believe our doctrines ? 

5. Do you understand and approve of our 

discipline ? 

6. Will you preach the one and enforce 

the other to the utmost of your power ? 

7. If appointed to a Circuit, are you re- 

solved to devote yourself to the impor- 
tant duties of your office ? 

8. Are you able to relinquish your present 

situation in an honourable manner ? 

9. Are you free from debt ? or will you 

engage to discharge every demand 
upon you to the satisfaction of the 
Meeting ? 

10. Have you formed any engagement 
relative to marriage, and will you con- 
form to the regulation of Conference 
on this head ? 

After these questions have been answered, 
the Candidate shall retire while the Meeting 
resumes its deliberations. If a majority approve 
of his being recommended to the Conference as 
a Circuit Preacher, he shall be called into the 
Meeting again, and be addressed by the Chair- 
man with due solemnity. If the Meeting deter- 
mine otherwise, then a deputation shall be ap- 
pointed to communicate the same with becoming 
tenderness. 

4. Every Preacher taken out to travel amongst 



Circuit Preachers* 



usj shall be considered as a probationer for not 
less than four years of active service, and so 
much longer as the Conference shall judge ne- 
cessary. During this period, they shall receive 
a yearly testimonial from the April Quarterly 
Meeting, answering to the following particulars : 

1. Has he uniformly evidenced true holi- 

ness of heart and life ? 

2. Has he laboured faithfully in the ^^ne- 

yard ? 

3. Have his labours been blessed of God ? 

4. Has his preaching been acceptable to 

the people ? 

5. Has he made improvement during the 

year ? 

6. Has he visited, fed, and watched over 

the flock ? 

7. Does his health appear equal to the 

duties of the itinerant life? 

8. Has. he practised and enforced discipline ? 

9. Is he at this time free from debt ? 

To which the Quarterly jNIeetiug shall add 
j whether it will receive him, when appointed to 
' labour in that Circuit after his probation. The 
I testimonials replpng to these questions shall be 
I read in the Conference, and registered in the 
j journal ; and the Conference shall approve, ad- 
j monish, or set aside the said Candidate, as the 
nature of these testimonials shall require.. 

5. A probationer having continued to the end 
of four years, and received testimonials from the 
i Circuits during that period, according to Rule, 
I he shall be personally examined under the direc- 
tion of Conference, especially concerning his 
doctrinal views ; and if the Conference itself be 
satisfied as to his suitableness for the Ministry, 
c 



38 Miscellaneous Rules relating to 



his probation shall then be concluded, and his 
name appear in the next published Minutes as 
a Circuit Preacher in full Connexion. He shall 
be required to attend the Conference at which 
his probation terminates, that he may publicly 
give an account of his religious experience, the 
motives which led him to engage in the Ministry, 
the reasons why he prefers our system of Church 
Government, and a statement of the doctrines 
he believes and teaches ; after which he shall 
receive a charge from one of the Senior Preach- 
ers, appointed for the purpose by the previous 
Conference, and the divine blessing be implored 
upon him and his labours. Should the Confer- 
ence on the other hand, see good to extend the 
period of his probation, it shall communicate the 
reason for so doing ; and the Candidate shall be 
mindful to conform to its counsel, in order to be 
approved on the next occasion ; or should Con- 
ference judge it necessary to set him aside 
altogether, it shall faitiifuUy perform its duty 
with Christian affection. 

6. In consequence of their peculiar situation, our 
single Preachers are recommended not to marry 
during their probation. No Preacher shall 
bring any expense upon the Conference, or upon 
any Circuit, by reason of a wife or family, until 
he be admitted into full Connexion, and after- 
ward only with such limitation in respect of 
children as though he were married at that time. 

SECTION XI. 

MISCELLANEOUS KULES RELATING TO CIKCUIT 
PREACHERS. 

1. Our Junior Preachers, especially during 
their probation, are charged diligently to pursue 



Circuit Preachers, 



39 



their duties, to seek and attend to the advice of 
their Soperintendants, whose duty it is to watch 
over and counsel them, as fathers in the Lord : 
they are to be prudent in all their connexions, 
to avoid a hasty spirit, to be circumspect both in 
their private and public walk, and by an agree- 
able and spiritual intercourse to render them- 
selves useful to the families that receive them. 

2. The Circuit Preachers in full Connexion, 
shall be men of faith and holiness, uniting them- 
selves in Class with their brethren, and dis- 
i charging their ministerial duties with all fidelity 
and perseverance. They shall maintain the truth of 
our doctrines, always keeping in view the end of 
their preaching, the awakening and conversion 
of sinners, the restoration of backsliders, the 
comforting of penitent enquirers, and the edifi- 
cation of those that believe. They shall, when 
practicable, meet one or more Classes, and, when 
they have opportunity, attend the Meetings for 
religious improvement, enjoined in our Rules. 
They shall visit each family, the heads whereof 
are Members of Society, at least once in each 
quarter ; more diligently attending to the sick. 
As fellow-labourers they are to be of one spirit, 
holding affectionate intercourse together, second- 
ing each other's exertions, and engaging in 
mutual prayer for their personal happiness, and 
the divine blessing on their labours. It is also 
required that the Superintendant be assisted by 
■ his colleagues in all his plans and important 
I duties. 

[ 3. Our Preachers and their families are called 
upon to be examples of frugality in their ex- 

; penses, and neatness in their apparel, of cleanli- 
ness in their houses, and of domestic order and 

I c 2 



40 Superintendant Preachers, 



management. By attention to these things, the 
Preachers' wives will exalt the character of their 
husbands, and, in like manner, both they and 
their children will do honour to their station. 

4. No Circuit Preacher shall engage in any 
worldly business, unless it be selling the books 
of the Connexion. 

5. No Preacher shall leave his Circuit during 
the time of Conference (save him who is ap- 
pointed to attend it), without the consent of those 
places which his absence may alfect. 

6. Should any Preacher be desirous of ad- 
dressing a Circular or Pamphlet to the Connex- 
ion, or any part thereof, or of issuing any pub- 
lication controverting our acknowledged princi- 
ples and existing Rules, he shall previous to pub- 
lishing, subject the work to the inspection and 
judgment of the Annual Committee. 

7. Our Circuit Preachers in full Connexion, 
having received tlie sanction of the people and 
of the Conference, shall not be afterwards dis- 
continued for want of ability, except in extraor- 
dinary cases of non-improvement or negligence, 
which shall be so clearly proved, that two-thirds 
of the Conference shall concur in the necessity 
of such discontinuance. 



SECTION XII. 

SUPERINTENDANT PREACHEKS. 

1. Our Superintendant Preachers shall be 
men living near to God, and under the influence 
of his Holy Spirit ; who can bear and forbear ; 
pursue an impartial course amongst the people; 
who can meet difficulties with firmness, and 
overcome tjiem with Christian temper; who 



Superintendant Preachers. 41 



count not their lives dear unto them, so that they 
may be useful to the Church of God, to their 
brethren in the Ministry, and to precious souls 
in general. 

jj 2, The Preacher, whose name stands first in 
the Minutes of Conference, shall be the Superin- 
tendant of the Circuit ; to him shall be entrusted 
the responsibility of carrying the resolutions of 
Conference into effect, and also of enforcing the 
Rules of the Connexion ; he shall be accountable 
to the Quarterly IMeeting and to the Conference 
for these duties ; and his brethren, both Circuit 
and Local, together with the Leaders' and Quar- 
terly iVIeetings, are required to support him in 
tlieir execution. 

3. It shall be his duty to attend the Local 
Preachers' Meetings, in order to assist in con- 
ducting their business. He shall also attend as 
frequently as possible the different Leaders 
Meetings in his Circuit : he shall examine the 
Class Papers, and see that the Leaders do their 
I duty : he shall enquire into the mode adopted 
I by each Leader for Meeting his Class, and give 
\ all needful advice on the occasion. In the whole 
of these duties, his colleagues shall cheerfully 
i take their part. 

I 4. He shall be authorized to instruct and ad- 
[ vise his fellow-labourers in the Ministry, with 
I all affection and faithfulness, as circumstances 
I may require, or their conduct demand ; espe- 
ciaDy he shall enquire into the personal religion, 
^ direct the studies, and promote the usefulness of 
u his brethren on probation. 

I 5. In conjunction with the Circuit Steward, 
' he shall annually prepare, for the use of the 
Conference, an abstract of the number of Cha- 
c 3 



4^ Preachers^ Salaries — Conference, 

pels, Societies, Local Preachers, Members in his 
Circuit, and the deaths which have taken place 
during the year, 

6. He shall have the Books of the Connexion 
under his care, and promote their sale to the 
utmost of his power. And as the welfare of the 
Chapels and Trust Estates belonging to the 
Connexion is intimately connected with its pros- 
perity, the Superintendants of the various Cir- 
cuits are recommended to interest themselves 
therein, by promoting the regular holding of 
Trust Meetings, and the annual adjustment of 
Accounts ; so as to prevent misunderstandings, 
and to increase among ottr worthy friends a 
spirit of co-operation. 

SECTION XIII. 
preachers' salaries. 

1. That married Preachers shall receive for 
themselves and wives £50 per annum, besides 
horse-shoeing and travelling expenses ; they 
shall also be provided with suitable houses, and 
heavy articles of furniture, whatever may be 
furnished in kind shall be reckoned off the £50. 

2. The single Preachers shall receive £25 
and travelling expenses. 

3. No additional expense to be brought upon 
a Circuit by a Preacher marrying, unless he was 
stationed as such by the Conference, 



SECTION XIV. 

CONFERENCE. 

1. There shall be an Annual Meeting or 
Conference of Preachers and Lay Representa- 



Conference. 



4^ 



tires, for transacting the business of the Con- 
nexion, to be held at such time and place as the 
previous Conference shall determine. 

2. Each Circuit shall be entitled to send one 
of its Preachers and one of its Lay Members to 
the Conference ; or, in cases of necessity, to be 
sanctioned by the Annual Committee, a Circuit 
may send one Representative, provided there be 
alternately a Preacher and Layman each time 
of single representation. Should any Circuit be 
unable, in the judgment of the Annual Commit- 
tee, to send a Representative, a letter accom- 
panied by the required documents, details, and 
collections, shall be sufficient. The Circuits 
sending single Representatives, or written com- 
munications to Conference, shall nevertheless 
have the right to a full representation at any 
period afterwards. 

3. The Treasurer of the Connexion, and the 
Corresponding Member of the Annual Commit- 
tee, shall be Slembers in ^-irtue of their official 
situations. 

4. Trustees of Chapels, when their legal 
rights are concerned, shall be allowed a Repre- 
sentative in Conference during the time their 
business is transacted, but no longer. 

5. The Conference shall make bye-laws for 
the regulation of its business : it shall also have 
the power to make laws, from time to time, for 
the government of the Connexion : but before any 
fundamental law affecting the whole body is 
repealed or altered, it shall take the sense of the 
Quarterly Meetings, and also consult the English 
Conference ; and afterwards form its determina- 
tions. 

6. The Conference, should it see proper, shall 



44 



Conference, 



be at liberty to exercise a friendly interference 
in the affairs of all our Societies and Circuits, 
for the adjustment of existing differences, and 
otherwise to promote the harmonious and effi- 
cient working of the different parts of the com- 
munity. 

7. The Conference, together with its Com- 
mittees, shall discharge their various duties un- 
influenced by partiality, and unmoved by intimi- 
dation. The glory of God, and the prosperity 
of his cause, shall be the grand end of all their 
deliberations and procedures. The Conference 
will maintain the system for the benefit of the 
people ; and the people in supporting the Reso- 
lutions of Conference will support their dearest 
rights and privileges. 

8. The Preacher and Lay-brother who are 
appointed as Colleagues, shall unite as much as 
possible in discharging the trust confided in 
them by the Circuit, agreeably to their instruc- 
tions ; in other matters they shall be at liberty 
to follow their own judgment. 

9. The instructions brought by the Repre- 
sentatives from their Circuits, shall be delivered 
to the President, unless their nature requires them 
to be placed in the hands of others appointed to 
manage the description of business to which they 
relate, and these instructions shall be attended 
to in the best manner possible. 

10. No Member of Conference shall withdraw 
himself from its sittings until the business be 
transacted, without permission : — any Preacher 
who violates this Rule, shall be disqualified 
from attending the next Conference; and any 
Lay-man who does the same shall be subject to 
a vote of censure, and be called to account at the 



Conference* 



45 



next Quarterly Meeting of his Circuit. No 
Member shall be allowed to act for another 
except in case of sickness or leave of absence. 

11. All letters addressed to the President of 
Conference shall be post paid, except from the 
officers of the last year, and any letters aifecting 
the characters of individuals, or the interests of 
Circuits, or of the Connexion, shall be submitted 
to the Representatives of such Circuits, and to 
the Corresponding Member of the Connexion, 
who, with the President, shall judge vrhether and 
how they shall be submitted to the Conference. 

12. Each Conference shall attend to the fol- 
lowing Rules, and as far as practicable to the 
following routine in the appointment of Officers 
and Committees, and in the transaction of its 
business : — 

I. The Presidenfc of the last Conference, or in his ab- 
sence the last President who is present, shall take the 
Chair, and after the opening prayer, he shall call upon 
some of the brethren to assist him in reading over the cre- 
dentials, Circuit by Circuit, and in entering the names of 
the Representatives on a roll for the use of Conference. 

II. After thus ascertaining who compose the Confer- 
ence, the Members shall ballot for a Presid(int, qualified 
by his activity, judgment, and experience, for that impor- 
tant station ; and should the numbers be equal, the Presi- 
dent, pro tempore, shall have the casting vote. 

III. The next business shall be to ballot in like manner, 
for a Secretary, whose duty it shall be to record the Reso- 
lutions of Conference, and to enter in the Journal, or pro- 
per books, the reports of the various Committees, as well 
as to take charge of all other matters belonging to his office. 

ly. After these preliminaries, the Conference shall 
again unite in prayer for divine assistance, especially on 
behalf of the President elect, who shall afterwards take the 
chair, and address the Conference in a suitable manner. 

T. The next business of Conference shall be to receive 
applications for the division and increase of Circuits, and 



46 



Conference* 



to determine thereon, that the Representatives may be 
admitted to its deliberations. 

YI. The question concerning the examination of the 
Preachers' characters shall then be proposed ; and all Cir- 
cuit documents relating thereto, including the required 
certificate for probationers, shall be separately examined ; 
and the Conference shall determine on the different cases, 
as circumstances may require, according to the Eules of 
the Connexion. The Preacher appointed to attend the 
Conference, shall not be deprived of his place at its sittings 
by any defect with which he may be charged, except in 
cases of alleged immorality. 

YII. The President shall take the earliest opportunity 
of apprizing the Members, at which time the respective 
officers will be in readiness to receive the state of the Con- 
nexion as to numbers, &c., the different Conference Col- 
lections, announcing the names of these officers, and where 
they will sit for this purpose. 

Ylir. The Conference, in this stage, shall receive the 
report of the Annual Committee ; and either take the 
matters contained therein into consideration, or call upon 
the Secretary to note them down for that purpose. 

IX. Immediately afterwards, the President fehall enquire 
what business the different Members have to bring for- 
ward in Conference : he shall then take down the heads 
thereof, and shall make the best arrangement in his power 
(or obtain the aid of a Committee to do it) for introducing 
them successivt'ly to the consideration of Conference : and 
this arrangement, or order of business, shall be read over 
from time to time in the Conference for its information. 

X. The Conference shall appoint a Committee for 
stationing the Preachers, of whom there shall be three 
Preachers and two Laymen one year, and vice versa the 
next ; this Committee shall be appointed by ballot, and 
only one Member shall be chosen from the Representatives 
of any Circuit. 

The Committee shall call in the Lay Representatives one by one, 
and take down their instructions; they shall also call in the 
Preachers, and take down their requests : they shall then draw up 
a plan to the best of their judgment, and as far as possible in con- 
formity with the views given them : they shall then read their plan 
for the first time in Conference, after" which the Preachers and 
Representatives shall be again called in, and such modifications 
made as may be practicable ; the plan shall then be read a second 
time in Conference ; and the Conference shall refer it a third time 
to the Committee, in order to determine any matter or matters of 
difl&culty ; and the third shall be final. 



I 



Annual Committee, 



, XI. The CoDference shall fix upon the persons who 
! shall prepare the yearly address, and draw up any addresses 

or notices that may be required. 
Il XII. The names of the brethren recommended by the 
\ Quarterly Conferences to be employed as Circuit Preachers, 
I shall be noted down, and examined case by case, and if 
needful, entered in the Conference Journal, to be taken 
out as occasion requires. 

XIII. The state of the Connexion shall next be taken 
into consideration, Circuit by Circuit, as to number of 
Members, deaths, &c., the state of the funds, &c. So far 
as is required, the Superintendant Preachers shall then 
' give an account to Conference of the manner in which 
' they have discharged their duties through the year, espe- 
cially in regard to the plans they have pursued, and the 
discipline they have maintained in their respective Circuits. 

XIY. The Conference shall appoint the Annual Com- 
mittee and the Treasurer of the Connexion, and any 
I other Connexional officers that may be required. 
I XY. The Resolutions of Conference shall all be read 
over before it closes its sittings ; and the Conference shall 
determine what part of its minutes shall be published. 

XVI. The Conference shall then be closed wdth a part- 
ing address from the chair, or by some Minister at its 
request, and by commending each other and the Connexion 
, to God in prayer. 

I 13. It shall be the boiinden duty of each Lay 
I Representative to assist the Superintendant 
L Preacher of his Circuit to the utmost of his 
power, in carrying into effect the Resolutions 
and Collections ordered by the Conference dur- 
ing the following year. 



SECTION XV. 

ANNUAL COMMITTEE. 

I. The Conference shall annually appoint a 
Committee of five persons for transacting the 
business of the Connexion, betwixt Conference 
and Conference. Three of the INIembers shall 



48 



Annual Committee, 



be Preachers, and two Laymen one year, and 
vice versa the following year. The President 
of the Conference, and the General Superinten- 
dant of the Mission, shall be two of the number. 
The General Superintendant to be the Corres- 
ponding Member, the remainder to be chosen 
by ballot, from Circuits as near to each other as 
may be found advisable. 

2. It shall be the duty of the Annual Com- 
mittee to attend to the Resolutions of Confer- 
ence, and to see that they are carried into eiFect. 
It shall make provision for such Circuits as shall 
in its judgment want supplies betwixt Confer- 
ence and Conference, but without interfering 
with existing appointments (unless by consent 
of all concerned), or pledging the Conference 
beyond what is unavoidable. It shall also re- 
ceive applications from persons and places de- i 
sirous of uniting with us, and determine thereon, 
or refer them to Conference as it shall see proper. 

3. The Annual Committee shall expound the 
Resolutions of Conference in case of doubt (sub- 
ject to the opinion of the following Conference): 
it shall order pecuniary payments where Confe- 
rence shall have overlooked them, or where it is 
clear they belong to Conference, and are ur- 
gently wanted. It shall give advice in all mat- 
ters of dispute or difficulty which shall be referred 
to its consideration ; and when needful, its Mem- 
bers shall consult together, or conjointly address 
the Connexion ; the charges whereof shall be 
paid by the Conference. 

4. The Corresponding Member shall receive 
and answer letters, and communicate the decision 
to the Committee ; for which purpose he shall 
consult his brethren in office, and be guided by 



Religious Ordinances. 



49 



the opinion of the majority. In cases of extreme 
urgency, he and his colleagues residing in the 
same Circnit shall be authorized to act upon their 
own responsibility, taking care to communicate 
their proceedings as early as possible to their 
brethren. A Member shall be entitled to enter 
his protest against any measure which he disap- 
proves ; or he may resign, and the remaining 
Members shall fill up his place ; but no Member 
shall interrupt the business of the Committee on 
any occasion whatever. The Corresponding 
Member shall record the transactions of the 
Committee, and prepare a report for Conference : 
which report shall receive the sanction of hia 
brethren, and be entered in the Book provided 
for that purpose. 



SECTION XVI. 

BELIGIOUS ORDINANCES AND MEETINGS FOB 
CHRISTIAN EDIFICATION. 

1. Public Worship^ and the Ministration of 
the Word — The hours and order of Sabbath 
preaching shall be fixed by the proper authori- 
ties. These services shall commence with sing- 
ing and prayer, in the morning and evening a 
portion of the Holy Scriptures may be read, 
after which a second hymn s.iall be sung: a 
sermon shall then be preaclied, seasonable in its 
nature, and suitable in its length to tiie occasion. 
A third hymn, if convenient, shall then follow, 
and the whole close with solemn prayer. 

2. Baptism — This Christian ordinance shall 
be administered on the Sabbath, monthly, in all 
our Chapels, and by our Circuit Preachers where 
practicable; and also privately, when it is parti- 

D 



50 



Doctrines* 



cularly requested, and the Minister is satisfied 
that the application is proper. In the country 
districts, it will be proper for our friends to 
avail themselves of opportunities as the Preach- 
ers may visit them. This ordinance shall be 
administered to the children of our Members, of 
persons worshiping with us, and of others at the 
discretion of the Preachers. 

3. The Lord's Supper, —T\y[^ divinely appointed 
ordinance shall be administered on the Sabbath, 
monthly, in our principal Chapels, and by the 
Circuit Preachers, where both are practicable, 
and our people shall be exhorted regularly to 
attend upon this ordinance, both as a pledge of 
their attachment to their Redeemer, and as a 
condition of their communion with his people. 

4. Class Meetings,— hove Feasts, Band 
Meetings, and Prayer Meetings, shall be punc- 
tually attended to, under the direction of the 
Leaders' Meetings, or Superintendant Preachers. 



SECTION XVII. 

DOCTRINES. 

1. We believe that there is one God, who is 
infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and 
Governor of all things. 

2. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old 
and New Testament are given by Divine Inspi- 
ration, and form a complete rule of faith and 
practice. 

3. We believe that three persons exist in the 
Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
Ghost, undivided in essence, and co-equal in 
power and glory. 

4. We believe that in the person of Jesus 



Doctrines. 



51 



Christ the Divine and human natures are united, 
so that he is truly and properly God, and truly 
and properly man. 

5. We believe that man was created in right- 
eousness and true holiness, but that by his diso- 
bedience, Adam lost the purity and happiness of 
his nature ; and, in consequence, all his posterity 
are involved in depravity and guilt. 

6. We believe that Jesus Christ has become 
the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, 
that he rose from the dead, and that he ever 
liveth to make intercession for us. 

. 7. We believe that repentance towards God, 
and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, are necessary 
to salvation. 

8. We believe that justification is by grace, 
through faith, and that he that believeth hath the 
witness in himself : and that it is our privilege 
to be fully sanctified in the name of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and by the spirit of our God. 

9. We believe that man's salvation is of God, 
and that his damnation is of himself. We believe, 
also, that in the Gospel plan of redemption, men 
are treated as rational, accountable creatures ; 
that it is God that worketh in us to will and to 
do of his own good pleasure and that we are 
to '^work out our own salvation, with fear and 
trembling." 

10. We believe that it is possible for man to 
fall finally from grace. 

11. We believe the soul to be immortal, and 
that after death it immediately enters upon a 
state of happiness or misery. 

12. We believe in the resurrection of the body 
— in the general judgment at the last day — in 



62 



The Lord's Supper, 



the eternal happiness of the righteous — and in 
the endless punishment of the wicked. 

For the illustration of these doctrines, we refer 
to the first four volumes of Mr. Wesley's Ser- 
mons, and his Notes upon the New Testament. 

" If there come any unto you, and bring not 
this doctrine, receive him not." 2 John, 10. 



SECTION XVIII. 

FORMS FOR ADMINISTERING THE ORDINANCES. 

lord's supper. 

The Elder shall say, 

Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your 
sins, and are in love and charity with your neigh- 
bours, and intend to lead a new life, foUov^^ing 
the commandments of God, and walking from 
henceforth in his holy ways ; draw near with 
faith, and take this holy sacrament to your com- 
fort ; and make your humble confession to Al- 
mighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees. 

Then shall the Elder say, 

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, 
O merciful God, trusting in our own righteous- 
ness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. 
We are not wx)rthy so much as to gather up the 
crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same 
Lord, whose property is always to have mercy ; 
Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the 
flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink 
bis blood, that our sinful souls and bodies may 
be made clean by his death, and washed tlirough 
his most precious blood, and that we may ever- 
more dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. 



The Lord's Supper, 



53 



Then the Elder shall say the Prayer of Consecration, as 
followeth : 

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who, of 
thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus 
Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our re- 
demption ; who made there (by his oblation of 
himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient 
sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of 
the whole world: and did institute, and in his 
holy gospel command us to continue, a perpetual 
memory of that, his precious death, until his com- 
ing again : hear us, O merciful Father, we most 
humbly beseech thee, and grant that we, receinng 
these thy creatures of bread and wine, according 
to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy in- 
I stitution in remembrance of his death and passion, 
may be partakers of his blessed Body and Blood ; 
who, in the same night that he was betrayed took 
bread: and when he had given thanks he broke 
it and gave it to his disciples, saying. Take eat ; 
this is ray body which is given for you ; Do this 
in remembrance of me. Likewise, after supper 
he took the cup ; and when he had given thanks 
he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this ; 
for this is my blood of the New Testament, 
which is shed for you, and for many, for the re- 
mission of sins ; Do this, as oft as ye shall drink, 
in remembrance of me. Amen. 

Then shall the Minister first receive the Communion in 
both kinds himself, and then proceed to deliver the same 
to the other Ministers in like manner (if any be present), 
and after that to the people also, in order, into their 
hands. And when he delivereth the bread, he shall say : 

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which 
was given for thesy preserve thy soul and body 
D 3 



64 The LordHs Supper. 



unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in re- 
membrance that Christ died for thee^ and feed 
cn him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving* 

And the Minister that delivereth the Cup, shall say. 

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which 
was shed for thee^ preserve thy soul and body 
unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance 
that Christ's Blood was shed for thee, and ba 
thankful. 

Then shall the Elder say the Lord's Prayer: the people 
repeating after him every petition : 

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be 
thy name : Thy Kingdom come : Thy will be 
done on earth as it is in heaven : give us this day 
our daily bread ; and forgive us our trespasses, 
as we forgive them that trespass against us ; and 
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 
evil, for thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, 
and the Glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Then the Elder, if he see it expedient, may put up an 
extempore Prayer : and afterwards shall let the people 
depart with this blessing : 

May the peace of God, which passeth all un- 
derstanding, keep your hearts and minds in the 
knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus 
Christ our Lord ; and the blessing of God Al- 
mighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, 
be amongst you, and remain with you always. 
Amen. 

N. B. If the Elder be straitened for time, 
he may omit any part of the service, except the 
prayer of consecration* 



Baptism to Infants* 55 

BAPTISM TO INFANTS. 

The Minister shall use the following, or some other exhor- 
tation, suitable to this sacred office : 

Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are con- 
ceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour 
Christ saith. None can enter into the kingdom 
of God, except he be regenerate and born anew 
of water and of the Holy Ghost ; I beseech you 
to call upon God the Father, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will 
grant to this Child that thing which by nature 
he cannot have ; that he may be baptized with 
water and the Holy Ghost, and received into 
Christ's holy church, and be made a lively mem- 
ber of the same. 

Then shall the Minister say: 

Let us Pray. 

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy 
great mercy didst save Noah and his family 
in the Ark from perishing by water ; and also, 
didst safely lead the children of Israel, thy peo- 
ple, through the Red Sea, figuring thereby thy 
holy baptism : and by the baptism of thy well 
beloved Son Jesus Christ in the River Jordon, 
didst sanctify water for this holy sacrament, 
We beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that 
thou wilt look upon this child: wash him and 
sanctify him with the Holy Ghost ; that he, being 
delivered from thy wrath, may be received into 
the ark of Christ's church, and being steadfast 
in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in love, 
' may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, 
j that finally he may come to the land of everlast- 
V ing life : there to reign with thee, world without 
•od, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



56 Baptism to Infants. 



O merciful God, grant that the old Adam iit 
this child may be so biiriedj that the new man 
may be raised up in him. Amen. 

Grant that all carnal affections may die in him^ 
and that all things belonging to the Spirit may 
live and grow in him. Amen. 

Grant that he may have power and strength 
to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, 
the world and the flesh. Amen. 

Grant that whosoever is dedicated to thee by 
our Office and Ministry, may also be endued 
with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly reward- 
ed through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, 
who dost live and govern all things, world with- 
out end. Amen. 

Almighty, everliving God, whose most dearly 
beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of 
our sins, did shed out of his most precious side 
both water and blood, and gave commandment 
to his disciples that they should go teach all 
nations, and baptize them in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; 
regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy 
congregation ; sanctify this water for this holy 
Sacrament ; and grant that this childy now to be 
baptized, may receive the fulness of thy grace, 
and ever remain in the number of thy faithful 
and elect children, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 

Then shall the people stand up : and the Minister shall sj^, 

Hear the words of the gospel written by St. 
Mark, in the tenth chapter, at the thirteenth .\ 
verse : ■ 

They brought young children to Christ, that n 
he should touch them. And his disciples rebuked 



L Baptism. 67 

I those that hrought them, but when Jesus saw it, 
1 he was much displeased, and said unto them, 
I Suffer the little children to come unto me, and 
*i forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of 
il God — -Verily I say unto you. Whosoever shall 
Ij not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, 
I he shall not enter therein. And he took them 

up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and 

blessed them. 

Then the Minister shall take the Child into his Hand, 
and say to the Friends of the Child, 

Name this Child. 

I And then naming it after them, he shall sprinkle or pour 
*i water upon it, or if desired, immerse it in water, saying, 

N. I baptize thee in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Then shall be said, all kneeling, 

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be 
thy name ; Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be 
done on earth, as it is in heaven : Give us this 
day our daily bread ; and forgive us our tres- 
passes, as we forgive them that trespass against 
us ; And lead us not into temptation ; But de- 
liver us from evil. Amen. 

Then shall the Minister conclude with extemporary Prayer, 



BAPTISM TO SUCH AS AEE OF KIPER YEARS. 

The Minister shall use the following, or some other 
exhortation, suitable to this Holy Office. 

Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are 
conceived and born in sin (and that which is 
born of the flesh is flesh, and they that are in the 
flesh, cannot please God, but live in sin, com- 
mitting many actual transgressions): and that 



58 



Baptism to such 



our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into 
the kingdom of God, except he be regenerate 
and born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost : 
I beseech you to call upon God the Father, 
through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his boun- 
teous goodness he will grant to these persons 
that which by nature they cannot have : that 
they may be baptized with water and the Holy 
Ghost, and received into Christ's holy church, 
and be made lively members of the same. 

Then shall the Minister demand of each of the persons to 
be baptized, severally : 

Quest. Wilt thou renounce the devil and all 
his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world , 
with all covetous desires of the same, and the 
carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not 
follow or be led by them ? 

Answ. I will. 

Quest, Dost thou believe in God the Father 
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth ? and in 
Jesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord ? 
And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
born of the Virgin Mary ? that he suffered un- 
der Pontius Pilate, v/as crucified, dead and bu- 
ried ; that he rose again the third day : that he 
ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand 
of God the Father Almighty, and from thence 
shall come again, at the end of the world, to judge 
the quick and the dead ? 

And dogt thou believe in the Holy Ghost, the 
Holy Catholic Church ; the Communion of 
Saints ; the Remission of Sins ; the Resurrection 
of the Body, and everlasting life after death ? 

Answ. All this I steadfastly believe. 



As are of Riper Years. 



59 



Quest, Wilt thou be baptized in this faith? 

Ansio\ This is my desire. 

Quest. Wilt thou then obediently keep God's 
holy will and commandments, and walk in the 
game all the days of thy life ? 

Answ. I will endeavour so to do, God being 
my helper. 

Then shall the Minister say, 

O Merciful God, grant that the old Adam in 
these persons may be so buried, that the new man 
may be raised up in them. Amen. 

Grant that all carnal affections may die in 
therriy and that all things belonging to the Spirit, 
may live and grow in them. Amen. 

Grant that they may have power and strength 
to have victory, and triumph against the devil, 
the world, and the flesh. Amen. 

Grant that they being here dedicated to thee 
by our Office and Ministry, may also be endued 
with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly reward- 
ed, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, 
who dost live and govern all things, world with- 
I out end. Amen. 

Almighty, everliving God, whose most dearly 
beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of 
I our sins, did shed out of his most precious side, 
I both water and blood ; and gave commandment 
1 to his disciples, that they should go teach all 
' nations, and baptize them in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : 
\ Regard, we beseech tliee, the supplications of 
; this congregation : and grant that th'e persons 
I' now to be baptized, may receive the fulness of 
\\ thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy 
faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ 
i our Lord. Amen. 



60 Matrimony. ] 

Then shall the Minister take each person to be baptized by 
the Right Hand; and placing him conveniently by the 
Font, according to liis discretion, shall ask the name; 
and tlien shall sprinkle or pour water upon him (or if 
he shall desire it, shall immerse him in water), saying, 

N. I baptize thee in the name of tlie Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling. 

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be 
thy name : Thy kingdom come : Thy will be 
done on earth, as it is in heaven : Give us this 
day our daily bread; and forgive us our tres- 
passes, as we forgive them that trespass against 
us : And lead us not into temptation ; But de- 
liver us from evil. Amen. l 



MATRIMONY. j 

First, the Banns of nil that are to be married together t 
must be published in thn Congregation, three several ; 
Sundays, in the time of Divine Service (unless they be 
otherwise qualified acrcordiiig to la« ), the Minister saying 
after the accustomed manner: 

I publish the Banns of Marriage between M 

of , and iVof If any of you know 

cause or just impediment, why these two persons 
should not be joined too^ether in holy matrimony, 
1/e are to declare it : This is the first \_seco7id or 
third^ time of asking. 

At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matri- | 
mony, the persons to be married, standing together, the 
Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, 
the Minister shall say, 

Dearly beloved, we are gathered together 
here in the sight of God, and in the presence of 
these witnesses, to join together this man and 



Matrimony. 61 

this woman in holy matrimony; Trliicli is au 
honourable estate, instituted of God in the time 
of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mys- 
tical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church ; 
which holy estate Christ adorned and beantiiied 
with his presence, and fir-t miracle that he 
wrought in Cana of Galdee, and is C'mmended 
of St. Paul to be honourable amon^ all men ; 
and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, or 
taken in hand unadvisedly, but reveiently, dis- 
creetly, advisedly, and in the fear of God. 

Into which holy estate these two persons pre- 
sent come now to b? - ■ Therefore if any 
can shew anyju?t ^ ' iiiny not law- 

fully be joined tog c .^j ...in now speak, or 
else hereafter for ever hold his peace. 

And also speaking uDto the persons that are to be married, 
he shall say, 

I require c';".:^ ? ■:^c^th (as you will 
answer at iidgment, when 

the secrets cii. i.^ar., disclosed), that 

if either of you know a: 'rnent why you 

may not be lawfully joii er in matrimo- 

ny, you do now ccnf "or be ye well 

assured, that sc npled together 

otherwise than ^t . . allow, are not 

joined together by God. i:either is their matri- 



If n ) .Lipf v^iiijent be alleged, then shall the ^.linister say 
UDto the Man, 

jrL Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded 
wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in 
the holy estate of matrimony ? Wilt thou love 
her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness 

E 



62 



Matrimony, 



and in health ; and forsaking all other, keep thee 
only unto her, so long as ye both shall live ? 

The Man shall answer, 

I will. 

Then shall the Minister say unto the Woman, 

Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded 
liusband, to live together after God's ordinance, 
in the holy estate of matrimony ? Wilt thou 
obey him, serve him, love, honour, and keep him, 
in sickness and in health ; and forsaking all other, 
keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall 
live ? 

The Woman shall answer, 

I will. 

Then the Minister shall cause the Man with his Right 
Hand to take the Woman by her Right Hand, and to 
say after him as followeth : 

I M* take thee N, to be my wedded wife, 
to have and to hold, from this day forward, for 
better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness 
and in health, to love and to cherish, till death 
us do part, according to God's holy ordinance ; 
and thereto I plight thee my faith. 

Then shall they loose their hands, and the Woman with 
her Right Hand taking the Man by his Right Hand, 
shall likewise say after the Minister : 

I N, take thee to be my wedded husband, 
to have and to hold from this day forward, for 
better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness 
and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till 
death us do part, according to God's holy ordi- 
nance ; and thereunto I give thee my faith. 



Burial of the Dead, 63 

Then shall the Minister join their Right Hands together 
and say, 

Those whom God batli joined together, let no 
man put asunder. 

Forasmuch as 31. and X. have consented 
together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed 
the same before God and this company, and 
thereto have pledged their faith eitlier to other, 
and have declared the same by joining of liands ; 
I pronounce that they are ]Man and Wife toge- 
ther, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

And the Minister shall add this blessing : 

- God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy 
Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you ; the Lord 
mercifully with his favour look upon you, and so 
fill you with all spiritual benediction, and grace, 
that ye may so live together in this life, that in 
the world to come ye may have life everlasting. 
Amen. 

Then the Minister shall say, 
Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be 
thy name : Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be 
done on earth, as it is in heaven ; Give us this 
day our daily bread ; And forgive us our tres- 
passes, as we forgive them that trespass against 
us : And lead us not into temptation ; But de- 
liver us from evil. Amen. 



BUFvIAL or THE DEAD. 

N. B. The following or some other solemn 
service shall be used. 

The Minister meeting the Corpse, and going before it, 
shall say, 

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the 

E '2 



64 



Burial of the Dead. 



Lord ; he that believeth in me, though he were 
dead, yet shall he live ; and whosoever iiveth 
and believeth in me, shall never die. John xi. 
2o, 26. 

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that 
he shall stand at the latter daj^ upon the earth. 
And though, after my skin, worms destroy this 
body, yet in ray flesh shall I see God : whom I 
shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, 
and not another. Job xix. 25, 26, 27. 

^l"e brought nothing into this world, and it is 
certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord 
gave, and the Lord hath takqn away ; blessed 
be the name of the Lord. 1 Tim. vi. 7. Job i. 2L 

At the Grave when the Corpse is laid in the earth, the 
Minister shall say, 

iSIau that is born of a woman hath but a short 
time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh 
up, and is cut down like a flower ; he fleeth as 
it were a shadow, and never continueth in one 
sta}^ 

In the midst of life we are in death : of whom 
may we seek for succour, but of tbee, O Lord, 
who for our sins art justly displeased? 

Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most 
mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, de- 
liver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death. 

Thou kuowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts : 
shut not th}^ merciful ears to our prayers, but 
spare us. Lord most holy, O God most mighty, 
O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy 
Judge eternal, suifer us not at our last hour for 
any pains of death to fall from thee. 

Then shall be said : 

I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, 



Chapels, Sfc. 66 



write; From henceforth blessed are the dead 
who die in the Lord .; even so saith the Spirit ; 
for they rest from their labours. 

Then shall the Minister say, 

Lord have mercy upon us. 
Christ have mere?/ upon us. 
Lord have mercy upon us. 

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be 
thy name: Thy Kingdom come: Thy will be 
done on earth, as it is in heaven : give us this 
day our daily bread ; and forgive us our tres- 
passes, as we forgive them that trespass against 
us : and lead us not into temptation, but deliver 
us from evil. Amen. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
love of God, and tlie fellowship of the Holy 
Ghost be with us all evermore. Amen. 



SECTION XIX. 

CHAPELS AND FUNDS OF THE CONNEXION/ 

Chapels, 

1. To promote the peace and stability of the 
Community, it is earnestly recommended that 
all our Chapels be settled on trust for the use 
of the Connexion, according to the Deed pre- 
pared and inserted in this Book. See page 68. 

2. Our Trustees are exhorted to ensure their 
Trust Property to at least two-thirds of the es- 
timated value. * 

Yearly Collection, 

L A Collection shall be made through our 
Classes immediately after the January Quarterly 
Conference, and also in all our Chapels in or 

B 3 



66 



Paternal Fund, 



about the month of February, which shall be paid 
in at the Quarterly Conference following, and 
be applied in enabling the Conference to meet 
the various incidental and extraordinary demands 
upon it, for which no other provision is made. 

2. The amount contributed by each Society 
shall be sent to Conference by the Lay Repre- 
sentatives, and the same snail be published in 
a detailed form in the Minutes, together with 
an account of all disbursements. 

Paternal Fund. 

1. A public Collection shall annually be made 
in all our Chapels, and also a private one among 
our able friends, for the purpose of forming a 
Fund with which to maintain the children of our 
Preachers, so that they may be stationed without 
inconvenience in any Circuit of the Connexion ; 
and as all our Circuits are equally interested in 
the benefits of this Fund, they shall all be required 
to promote it to the utmost of their power. 

2. The Preachers shall note the Birth of their 
children to the Treasm-er of the Fund, wdio shall 
enrol them, and the claim for payment shall com- 
mence from that time. For children under eight 
years, £3 per annum ; and from eight to twelve 
years, £5 per annum ; when they shall go off 
the Fund. 

3. The public Collections and private Sub- 
scriptions for this Fund, shall be made between 
the months of October and January ; amounts 
remitted to the Treasurer of the Connexion by 
the first of February in each year. A detailed 
account of the Contributions and Disbursements 
shall be submitted to Conference, and published 
in the Minutes. 



Beneficent Society. 67 

This excellent Institution is intended for the 
support of our aged Ministers, their Widows and 
Orphans, and its design does honour to the Con- 
nexion. The English Conference seeing the 
importance and desirableness of such an Institu- 
tion, have proposed granting £30 per annum 
towards its support, should the Institution be 
properly supported. Our Preachers can look 
to it as a support for their widows, an inheri- 
tance for their orphan children, and a mainte- 
nance for their declining years, and w^ill be en- 
couraged to labour without anxiety or appre- 
hension. Our friends will remember that as this 
Institution is partly supported by the annual 
subscriptions of the Preachers, so it has to be 
supported by the annual donations of the friends, 
who are exhorted to contribute liberally to this 
work of benevolence. 

The Rules of this Institution will be published 
in a separate form ; but we give the follow^ing 
sketch relating to Contributions and Allowances. 

1. That every Circuit Preacher, whether 
married or unmarried, shall become a Member 
of this Society, and shall pay to the Trea- 
surer thereof, in advance annually, at the Meet- 
ing of Conference, if married, one pound five 
shillings currency, if unmarried, one pound cur- 
rency for his annual subscription. 

2. That any Preacher who is a free Member 
of this Society, and is declared by two thirds of 
Conference superannuated, shall receive the fol- 
lowing allowances: — viz, if he have travelled 
thirty years and be married, then he shall re- 
ceive, dm-ing the lives of himself and wife, £24 
per annum : if unmarried, or a widower, £16 
per annum. If he have travelled twenty years, 



68 



General Deed of Trust, 



and be married, £18 per annum : if unmarried, 
or a widower, £12 per annum. If he have 
travelled fifteen years, and shall be married, £14 
per annum : if unmarried, or a widower, £10 
per annum, if he have travelled five years, and 
be married, £12 per annum : if unmarried, or a 
widower, £8. If he have travelled long enough 
to be a Free Member, and yet not entitled to 
any of the above allowances, and shall be mar- 
ried, £10: if unmarried, or a widower, £6 lOs. 
per annum. 

3. That the widow of a Preacher who has 
travelled twenty years shall receive, during the 
time she shall continue the widow of such 
Preacher, £14 per annum: if fifteen years, £10 
per annum ; and if less than fifteen years, yet 
so long as to be a Free Member, £7 per annum. 

4. That every widower, who is a Free Memi- 
ber, and the widow of a Free Member shall re- 
ceive £3 per annum for every child he or she 
may be left with, till such child attains the age 
of ten years. 

0. That Preachers' orphan childi'en under one 
year old, shall be allowed after the rate of £3 
per annum, and an advance of five shillings cur- 
rency per annum shaU be made, tiU they attain 
the age of twelve years. 



SECTION XX. 

rOEil or A GENERAL DEED OP TRUST. 

Whereas in and by an Act of the Parliament 
of that part of this Province, formerly known 
as Upper Canada, passed in the ninth year of 
the Reign of King George the Fourth, entitled 



General Deed of Trust. 



69 



An Act for the relief of tlie Religious Socie- 
ties therein named," it is enacted that vvhenever 
any Religions Congregation or Society of 
Presbyterians, Lutherans, Calvinists, Methodists, 
Congregationalists, Judependants, Anabaptists, 
Quakers, Menonists, Tankers, and Moravians, 
shall have occasion to take a Conveyance of Land, 
for the site of a Church, Meeting House, or 
Chapel, or Burying- Ground, it shall and may be 
lawful for them to appoint Trustees, to whom, 
and their Successors, to be appointed in such 
manner as shall be specified in the Deed, the 
requisite Land for all or any of the purposes afore- 
said (not exceeding five acres for any one con- 
gregation) may be conveyed, and such Trustees 
and their Successors in perpetual succession, by 
the name expressed in such Deed, shall be capable 
of taking, holding, and possessing such Land, and 
of commencing and maintaining any action in law 
or equity, for the protection thereof, and of their 
right thereto. And v/nereas a Religious Soci- 
ety of Methodists, have occasion to take such a 
Deed of Conveyance of a Parcel or Tract of 
Land, situate in the Township of 
in the County of and District of 

in the Province of Canada, for the site of a Meet- 
ing- House, or Chapel and Burying- Ground, 
have appointed Trustees by the name and style 
of the Trustees of the Cliapel of the Canadian 
Wesleyan"^' Methodist New Connexion, in the 



The seventh Resolution of the Conference held at Ha- 
milton on tlie 8th day of June, &c. 1841, ^yill probably 
make an alteration of the name in which the Deed is made 
3cessary. That Resolution reads : 

A coramunication having- been made to this Conference bv Mr. 
Aaayman, the Superinteudant of the Methodist New Connexion 



70 



General Deed of Trust. 



Township of Now this Indenture, 

made the day of in the year 

of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and 
between of the Town- 

ship of in the County of 

and District of and Province afore- 

said, (here insert grantors^ addition^ and if mar- 
ried the name of his wife) of the first part, and 
(here add 7iames, residences, and additions of 
the Trustees) the Trustees aforesaid, of the 
second part ; witnesseth that the said party of 
the first part, for and in consideration of the 
sum of lawful money of the said Pro- 

vince, to him in hand, paid by the said party of 
the second part, before the sealing and delivery 
hereof, the receipt whereof is hereby acknow- 
ledged, hath given, granted, bargained, sold, re- 
leased, confirmed and conveyed, and by these 
presents doth give, grant, bargain, sell, release, 
confirm and convey unto them, the said party of 
the second part, by the aforesaid name and style 
of the Trustees of the Chapel of the Cana- 
dian Wesleyan Methodist New Connexion, in 
the Township of and their successors 



Mission to Canada, that the Committee of the said Mission had as- 
certained that it would give more general satisfaction to the mem- 
bers of the Methodist Xew Connexion in England, and in their 
estimation be considered a more complete identity of the two re- 
ligious communities, and lead them more cordially to support the 
Missions, if the term " V/esleyan" were discontinued, and for the 
designation of the united religious community to be the Canadian 
Methodist New Connexion, the Conference resolves : — 

That, for the present, the name of the united body remain as 
stated in the Minutes of Conference for 1840 ; but, that the Preach- 
ers and Representatives submit the proposed alteration to the 
various quarterly meetings, and endeavour to obtain their concur- 
rence in the same, and that a report be sent . to the next Confer- 
ence for its guidance in this matter. 

Should the proposed alteration take place, then the Deed 
must be made in the name of the Canadian Methodist 
New Connexion. 



General Deed of Trust. 71 

to be appointed in manner hereinafter specified, 
all the estate, right, title, interest, property, 
claim and demand whatsoever, either in law or 
equity, which he (if the party he named^ they) 
hath (have) in, to or upon, all and singular, that 
certain Lot, Parcel, or Tract of Land, situate, 
lying and being in the Township of 
in the County, District and Province aforesaid, 
and which may be otherwise more particularly 
known and described as follows : That is to say, 
commencing (here set out the abuttals^ courses^ 
and distances ) to the place of beginning, con- 
taining acres, be the same more or 
less, together with all and singular the Houses, 
Out- Houses, Woods, Ways, Waters, Privileges, 
and Appurtenances, belonging therunto, or in 
any wise appertaining : To Have, and to Hold, 
all and singular the above-mentioned and de- 
scribed Piece or Tract of Land and Premises 
so situate, lying and being as aforesaid, together 
with all and singular the Houses, Out- Houses, 
Woods, Ways, Waters, Privileges, and Appur- 
tenances, belonging thereunto, or in any wise ap- 
pertaining unto them the said party of the second 
part, and their Successors in the said Trust for- 
ever, for the site of a Chapel or Meeting House, 
and Burying Ground, for the use of the Members 
of the said Canadian Wesleyan Methodist New 
Connexion, according to the Rules and Discipline 
of tlie said New Connexion, in Trust and Con- 
fidence that they shall and will at all times here- 
after forever, permit all and every the Ministers 
of the said New Connexion of Methodists, who 
are or may hereafter be duly licensed or other- 
wise authorized by the Conference of the said 
Connexion, to Preach and Perform Divine 



72 



General Deed of Trust. 



Service in said House, and Burial Service m said 
Burying Ground, according to the Rules, Disci- 
pline and Customs of said Connexion. And in 
further Trust and Confidence, tbat the said 
Trustees for the time being shall, if they think 
fit, permit the regular Ministers of any other 
Protestant Denomination of Christians, to preach 
and perform Divine Service in the said House, 
when it shall not be required for the use of the 
Ministers of the said Canadian Wesleyan Metho- 
dist New Connexion. And also in further Trust 
and Confidence, that the said Trustees for the 
time being, or a majority of them, shall and may 
at any time or times, or at such times as they 
or a majority of them shall deem expedient, set 
apart and appropriate so much of the above 
granted and described Premises, as may be ne- 
cessary for the use and purposes of a Parsonage 
or place of residence for the Ministers of the said 
Connexion, and to build, or cause to allov*^ to be 
built thereon, a fit and proper Building for said 
purpose. Provided always, and it is hereby de- 
clared to be the true intent and meaning of this 
Indenture, and of the parties hereto, that if any 
of them the said Trustees, or any future Trus- 
tees to be appointed under this present provision, 
shall die, or if any of them shall go to reside 
beyond the distance of miles from 

and continue to reside beyond 
such distance from for the space of 

years, or shall be convicted of felony or any 
other crime, or shall refuse or decline, or other- 
wise become incapable of acting as Trustees, and 
the said original number of Trustees for the time 
shall thereby be reduced to one half of the origi- 
nal number ; then, and in any or either of the 



General Deed of Trust. 



7a 



said cases, and when and so often as the same 
" shall happen, it shall and may be lawful to and 
for the surviving or continuing Trustees for the 
time being, or the majority of them, "with all 
convenient speed, by vrriting under their hands> 
to nominate and appoint so many other orderly 
and devout persons, being Members of the Cana- 
dian AYesleyan Methodist New Connexion, or 
frequenters of Divine Worship at the said Chapel, 
and who are known to be attached to the said 
Connexion, to be Trustees in the place or stead 
of the persons who shall so die, go to reside at 
a distance as aforesaid, or be convicted or become 
incapable to act as aforesaid, or at his or their 
own request shall by the other Trustees be per- 
mitted to relinquish or be discharged, as shall 
together with the then surviving or continuing 
Trustees make up the original num^ber of Trus- 
tees, and should the said surviving or continuing 
Trustees, when so reduced to one half of the 
said original number as aforesaid, at any time 
hereafter refuse or neglect to elect, nominate and 
appoint new Trustees as aforesaid, for the space 
of twelve months ; then, and in every such case, 
and when and so often as the same shall happen, 
it shall and may be lawful for any seven mem- 
bers of the said New Connexion of Methodists, 
who have been in the habit of attending Divine 
Worship at said Chapel for the space of twelve 
months then last past, and who still continue to 
attend the same, by writing under their hands, 
to require the said surviving or continuing Trus- 
tees for the time being to nominate proper per- 
sons as aforesaid to fill up the vacancies in the 
number of the said Trustees ; and if the said 
surviving or continuing Trustees shall neglect. 

F 



74 



Gemral Deed of Trust: 



or refuse so to do, for the space of six calendar 
months after such notice or request in writing 
shall be given as aforesaid, then and in such case, 
and when and so often as the same shall happen, 
it shall and may be lawful for the same, or any- 
other seven Members as aforesaid, to call a Meet- 
ing of the other Members of the said Connexion 
who attend said Chapel for the purpose of Divine 
Worship, together with the officiating Minister 
or Ministers for the time being ; and it shall and 
may be lawful for the persons so attending such 
Meeting, or a majority thereof, to nominate, elect 
and appoint such and so many fit and proper 
persons as aforesaid, to be such new Trustees 
as will make up the original number as aforesaid ; 
and the Trustees so nominated and appointed in 
either of the above cases or modes, shall be held 
and deemed to be the lawful Successor or Suc- 
cessors of the said above named Trustees of the 
second part, and shall have in perpetual succes- 
sion the same capacities, rights, powers and duties 
as are given to the said above named Trustees, 
in and by this Indenture, and by the Statute 
above referred to. 

And to the intent and end that evidence of the 
due nomination and appointment of succeeding 
Trustees, in the said Trust, may be preserved, 
the Trustees for the time being are hereby re- 
quired to keep a Book of Record, in which the 
name or names of any person or persons nomi- 
nated and appointed as aforesaid, and also the 
manner of the nomination and appointment, and 
all the proceedings relating thereto, shall be en- 
tered, and such entry shall be subscribed by the 
Trustees making the appointment, or if made by 
a meeting of Members as above provided for, to 



Memorial for Deed of Trust, 75 

be subscribed by at least seven of the said Mem- 
bers so making such nomination and appointment 
— (here insert the following clause if the party 
be married). And this Indenture further Wit- 
nesseth that the said vrife of the 

above-named for and in consid- 

eration of the sum of five shillings of lawful mo- 
ney aforesaid, to her in hand paid by them the 
said party of the second part, bath remitted, 
released, and forever relinquished, and by these 
Presents doth remit, release, and forever relin- 
quish unto them the said party of the second 
part, and their successors duly appointed as afore- 
said, all and all manner of Dower and Right or 
Title of Dower whatsoever, which she the said 
in the event of surviving her 
said husband, might or of right ought to have or 
claim in, to and out of the said certain Parcel or 
Tract of Land and Premises above-mentioned, 
and every Part and Parcel thereof, and all man- 
ner of Action or Actions and Writ or Writs of 
Dower whatsoever. 

In Witness Whereof we the said parties 
to this Indenture, have hereunto set our hands 
and seals, on the day and year above written. 

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of 

(The parties sign in the same order in which 
their names are mentioned, in the Deed,) 

FORM OF MEMORIAL FOR DEED OF TRUST. 

A Memorial to be Registered pursuant to the 
Statute in such case made and provided, of an 
Indenture of Bargain and Sale made under and 
by virtue of an Act of the Parliament of that part 
F 2 



76 Memorial for Deed of Trust, 



of tlie Province of Canada, formerly known as 
Ui^per Canada, passed in the ninth year of the 
Reign of King* George the Fourth, entitled " An 
Act for the relief of the Religious Societies there- 
in named," made the day of 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- 
dred and between of the Town 
of in the County of 
and District of and Province afore- 
said (here insert the grantors, addition, and if 
married, wife's name) of the first part, and fhere 
add names, residences and additions of the Trus- 
tees as in the Deed) Trustees of the Chapel of 
the Canadian Wesleyan Methodist New Con- 
nexion, in the Township of of the 
second part, whereby it is witnessed that the said 
party of the first part, for and in consideration of 
the sum of lawful money of the said 
Province, to him in hand paid by the said party 
of the second part, the receipt whereof is thereby 
acknowledged, hath given, granted, bargained, 
sold, released, confirmed, and conveyed unto the 
said party of the second part, by the name and 
style aforesaid, and their Successors to be appoint- 
ed in manner therein after specified, all the Es- 
tate, Right, Title, Interest, Property, Claim 
and Demand whatsoever, of him the said party 
of the first part in, to, or upon all and singular 
a certain Parcel or Tract of Land and Premises, i 
situate, lying and being in the Township of 

in the County, District, and Province 
aforesaid, and which may be more particularly 
known and described as follows : That is to say, 
commencing at (here set out the abuttals, courses 
and distances as in the Deed) to the place of 
beginning, containing acres, be the same 



I 



Memorial for Deed of Trust, 77 

more or less, together with all and singular the 
Houses, Out- Houses, Woods, Ways, Waters 3 
Privileges, and Appurtenances thereunto belong- 
ing, or in any wise appertaining : To Have and 
to Hold, all and singular the above-mentioned 
and described Parcel or Tract of Land and 
Premises, with all and singular the Houses, 
Out-Houses, Woods, Ways, Waters, Privi- 
leges, and Appurtenances thereunto belonging, 
or in any wise appertaining unto them the said 
party of the second part, and their successors in 
the said Trust forever, for the site of a Chapel 
or Meeting- House and Burying Ground, for and 
upon certain Uses and Trusts in the said Inden- 
ture mentioned; (if grantor he married^ insert 
as follows :) and whereby it is also further wit- 
nessed for the further consideration therein men- 
tioned, that the said wife of the 
said hath remitted, released, and 
forever relinquished unto the said party of the 
second part, and their Successors, all and all 
manner of Dower, which she might or would be 
entitled to in the event of her surviving her said 
husband, in the said Parcel or Tract of Land 
and Premises thereby conveyed, and which said 
Indenture is witnessed by of &c, 
and this Memorial is hereby required to be regis- 
tered by the said party of the 
part therein named. 

Witness Hand and Seal thi^ 
day of in the year of our 

Lord one thousand eight hundred and 

Signed and Sealed in Presence of 



PRINTED BT CAMPBELL AND BECKET, 



APPENDIX, 



THE rOEM AND MANNER OF ORDAINING ELDERS. 

[When the day appointed is come, there shall be a ser- 
mon, or exhortation, declaring the Duty and Office of such 
as come to be admitted Elders : how necessary that order 
is in the church of Christ, and also how the people ought 
to esteem them in their office.] 

After which, one of the Elders shall present all them that 
are to be ordained, and say, 
I present unto you these persons p'resent, to 
be ordained Elders. 

Then their names being read aloud, the Elder shall say 
unto the people. 
Brethren, these are they whom we purpose, 
God willing, this day to ordain Elders. For 
after due examination, we find, not to the con- 
trary, but that they are lawfully called to this 
function and ministry, and that they are persons 
meet for the same. But if there be any of you 
who knoweth any impediment or crime in any 
of them, for which he ought not to be received 
into this holy ministry, let him come forth in 
the name of God, and shew what the crime or 
impediment is. 

[If any crime or impediment be objected, the Elder shall 
surcease from ordaining that person untU such time as 
the party accused shall be found clear of the crime.] 
After this shaU be read for the Gospel, part of the tenth 
chapter of St. J ohn. 

St. John X. 1—16. 

Verily verily, I say unto you. He that entereth 
not by the door into the shaepfold, but climbeth 
up some other way, the same is a thief and a 
robber. But he that entereth in by the door, 
IS the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter 
openeth and the sheep hear his voice, and he 
calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them 
out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, 

goeth before them, and the sheep follow him. 



80 



they not follow, but flee from him, for they know 
not the voice of strangers. This parable spake 
Jesus unto them, but they understood not what 
things they were which he spake unto them. Then 
said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that 
ever came before me are thieves and robbers, | 
but the^ sheep did not hear them. I am the : 
door, bv me if any man inter in, he shall be saved, 
and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The 
thief Cometh not but to steal, and to kill, and to 
destroy ; I am come that they might have life, 
and that they might have it more abundantly, 
I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd 
giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an 
hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the 
sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth, 
the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf catcheth them, . 
and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth 
because he i* an hireling, and careth not for thef 
sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my 
sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father 
knoweth me, even so know I the Father : and I 
lay down my life for the sheep. And other 
sheep I have which are not of this fold : them! 
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, 
and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. 
And that done, the Elder shaU say unto them as hereafteif 
followeth ; 

You have heard, brethren, as well in youi 
private examination, as in the exhortation which 
was now made to you, and in the holy lessons 
taken out of the gospel, and the writings of th( 
apostles, of what dignity, and of how great im 
portance this office is whereunto you are called 
And now again we exhort you in the name o , 
our Lord Jesus Christ, that you have in remem 
brance, into how high a dignity, and to ho^ 

— -^11^^ , Thai i.q to Sa^ 



81 



to be messengers, watchmen and stewards of the 
Lord, to teach, and to preraonish, to feed and 
provide for the Lord's family, to seek for Christ's 
sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his 
children who are in the midst of this evil world, 
that they may be saved through Christ for ever. 

And now that this present congregation of 
Christ, here assembled, may also understand 
your minds and wills in these things, and that 
this your promise may the more move you to do 
your duty ; ye shall answer plainly to these 
things which we, in the name of God and his 
Churchj shall demand of you touching the same. 
* Do you think in your heart, that you are 
truly called, according to the will of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, to the order of Elders ? 

Answer. 

Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures 
contain sufficiently all doctrine required of ne- 
cessity for eternal salvation through faith in 
Jesus Christ ? And are you determined, out of 
the said Scriptures to instruct the people com- 
mitted to your charge, and to teach nothing as 
required of necessity to eternal salvation, but 
that which you shall be persuaded, may be con- 
cluded and proved by the Scripture ? 

Answer. 

Will you then give your faithful diligence, 
always so to minister the doctrine and sacra- 
ments, and dicipline of Christ, as the Lord hath 
commanded ? 

Answer. 

Will you be ready with all faithful diligence, 
to banish and drive away all erroneous and 
strange doctrines contrary to God s word ; and 
to use both public and private monitions and 
exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole 
within your charge, as need shall require and 
occasion shall be given ? 



82 



Will you be diligent in prayers, and in Sheading 
of the holy Scriptures, and in such studies*as 
help to the knowledge of the same, laying aside 
the study of the world and the flesh ? 

Answer. 

Will you be diligent to frame and [fashion 
yourselves, and your families, according to the 
doctrine of Christ ; and to make both yourselves, 
and them, as much as in you lieth, wholesome 
examples and patterns to the flock of Christ ? 

Answer. 

Will you maintain and set forward, as much 
as lieth in you, quietness, peace, and love among 
all Christian People, and especially among them 
that are or shall be committed to your charge ? 

Answer. 

Then shall the Elder, standing up, say, 
Almighty God, who hath given you this will 
to do all these things, grant also unto you strength 
and power to perform the same ; that he may 
accomplish his work which he hath begun in 
you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

When this prayer is done, the Elders present shall lay 
their hands severally upon the head of every one that re- 
ceiveth the order of Elders ; the Receivers humhly kneeling 
upon their knees, and the Elder saying, 

The Lord pour upon thee the Holy Ghost for 
the Office and Work of an Elder in the Church 
of God, which office is now committed unto thee 
by the imposition of our hands. And be thou 
a faithful Dispenser of the word of God, and of 
his Holy Sacraments ; In the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 

Then the Elder shall deliver to every one of them 
kneeling, the Bible into his hands, saying. 

Take thou authority to administer the holy 
sacrament in the congregation. 

Then the Elder shall conclude by prayer. 



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